¶ A justification or cleared of the Prince of Orendge against the false slanders, wherewith his ilwillers go about to charge him wrongfully.  Psalm. 17. ¶ The malicious person layeth wait for the righteous, and seeketh him to put him to death. But the Lord will not leave him up into his hands, nor accounted him for an offender, though he be taken for such a one. Psal. 5. ¶ Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies, The Lord abhorreth the murderer and the deceiver. Lord lead me forth in thy righteousness, because of them that lie in wait for me. Psal. xciiij. ¶ They embattle themselves against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the guiltless blood. But the Lord will be my defence, and my God shallbe the rock of my trust. 
¶ Imprinted at London, by john Day, dwelling over Aldersgate. Febr. 24. These books are to be sold at his long shop at the West door of Paul's.   

¶ To the Reader.  
THe things (among other) that are chiefly to be considered, in this justification of a most rightful case and innocent person, against unjust slanders and slanderers: are the unmeasurable cruelty and untolerable treachery of the Papists. Who to maintain the wrongful authority of their tyrannous kingdom, against God and his Christ, and against the Majesty of lawful Princes, whom God hath advanced to sovereignty for the maintenance of his true Religion, and for the welfare of the people committed to their charge: do so stop the ears and blind the eyes of Princes with their horrible leazynges (where they take place and bear sway): as they nother can see the wrongs done to their subjects by those ministers of Antichrist, nor hearken to their just complaints, that they might understand them and redress them. For whereas they themselves having shaken of all obedience towards God and his Ministers, and confounded the general bonds of natural and common reason, do both resist all law and lawful Magistrates, and also (as much as in them lieth) enforce men either to most miserable thraldom, (of conscience by forsaking God and all godliness, and of body by loss of goods, lands, liberty, wives, children, life, and good name) or to some means to withstand so extreme wretchedness whereunto they drive them by straining them beyond all ability of human patience: yet most slanderously they bear the states and potentates of the world on hand, that those most innocent and guiltless people, (which stand in nothing but only that which their Prince hath both granted and sworn that it should be lawful for them to do, and in such wise as he by like grant and oath hath given them leave and commandment to do, as appeareth most evidently by his solemn Protestation and vow made at the time of his joyful entry, when he was first admitted to the superiority of those countries, at the earnest request and intreatance of the late Emperor Charles his father, who made the like solemn oath Protestation and vow before him and with him:) are the authors, practisers and workers, of all disorders, confusions, mutinies, uproars, trubbles, rebellions, and treazons: only because that after sufferance of their excessive torments, & the thrusting of them out of their native countries: they give them not leave to tread them utterly under foot as mire, or rather to rid than quite & clean out of the world, with the Gospel and Religion of Christ. Which thing they could not do, if the Princes whom the Romish Antichrist holdeth yet captive in the prison of superstitious ignorance, would vout safe but only to stand as indifferent judges, and to make that simple account of them, which even common reason would they should, that is to wit, as of their subjects. For no righteous judge condemneth without hearing the allegations of both parties, nother doth any rightful Prince permit his subjects to revenge their own wrongs, and much less to oppress, devour, and eat up one an other. Therefore when the hearts of the sovereign liege Lords are so shut up, and their minds so alienated aforehand, by the sinister persuasions of cankerharted Papists and sly sycophants, which care not whose house be on fire so they may warm themselves by the coals of it, as no truth can have entrance into their ears or access into their presence: needs must the people go to wreck to the prejudice of the Prince, and the people being so wronged can not but seek to justify the right and truth of their case, by all good and reasonable means, to the church of God, and unto all such as are not so wholly carried away with blind and fantastical affection, but that they have some ability to discern right and equity: as may appear by the treatise here insewing. For here is nothing said or intended to the defence, maintenance or allowing of any disobedience, disorder, or unlawful behaviour of the subject towards his Prince: but to show most humbly and dewtifully both to Prince and subject, the intolerable inconveniences that grow by neglecting the mutual regard that each of them aught to have of other, and by the permitting of Papists to intrude themselves into such state of credit and authority, as they may be able to enforce a Government to the upholding of their own kingdom.  
And forasmuch as in this treatise there is mention made of a joyful entry: it is necessary to know what the same was. Therefore it is to be understood, that when soever any sovereign Lord entered into the possession of dominion over the Low Countries, whither it were by name of Earl, Duke, or any other title of superiority: by succession, election, or otherwise: he first took a sacred and solemn oath, to maintain the Laws, Statutes, Customs, Liberties, and Privileges of those countries, and not to procure, cause, suffer, or permit the infrindging, breaking, abrogating, disannulling, impeaching, or altering of them or any of them, or the bringing in, setting up, or stablishing of any new, without the consent, counsel, advice, and agreement of the states of the same Country, to the benefit and commodity of the people: before the which oath he●… was in no wise allowed or acknowledged as Lord there. By reason whereof, Charles the Emperor, and his son Philippe now king of Spain, to stablish the continewaunce of their possession in those countries, as their predecessors had always done at their first entries: did lately make solemn and faithful promise, Protestation, vow, and oath, as well for their heirs and successors as for themselves, that besides their maintaining of the common weal, peace, rest, quietness, tranquillity, and security of those Countries: they and every of them should and would keep, observe, and perform all the ancient customs, Laws, Statutes, Liberties, and Privileges of the same inviolable, and not bring in any new customs or orders, or suffer any to be brought in: nor set any Governor, Magistrate or Officer over them or in authority among them, being not the same Countryman born and having lands goods or possessions there: nor call any assembly of the States, nor 'cause any levying of money or men of war: no nor any coining of money to be made there, without the consent and advice of the States of the same Country. And for the more confirmation and assurance thereof: after the rehearsal of the particular points and Articles of the said Entry, (which are many) they added in effect this conclusion following: That if they, their heirs, or successors shall by themselves, or by any other, either wholly or partly, do, or cause to be done, any thing contrary or prejudicial to the premises, after what sort soever it be: they consent, agreed, and grant to their Prelates, Barons, Knights, Towns, Cities, Liberties, and all other their subjects, that then and from thenceforth they shall not do to them, their heirs or successors any kind of servis, nor own them any duty of allegiance, nor obey them in any matters wherein they shall have need of them, or which they shall desire or require at their hands, unless that upon reconciliation, satisfaction, and atonement, they be by the states of the same Countries accepted new again. And to the same intent they decreed and ordained, that all officers appointed or placed contrary to the faithful purport and true meaning of this their said Entry, should be dischargcd & displaced: and likewise that what soever thing were or should be done or attempted in prejudice or impeachment of the premises, should be esteemed as void and of none effect. In witness and everlasting confirmation whereof, the said Emperor & the Prince his son did set their hands and seals to the said oath in writing, at Louane the fift day of july. 1549. And this is it that is called the joyful entry. Whereby, and by many presidents of their stories, (which make mention how the people of those Countries have refuzed, renounced, rejected, removed, and depozed divers of their Lords & sovereigns for their misgovernment, and for infrindging their said oath: and in their places elected, appointed, set up, and established others, of whose justice they had better opinion and likelihood: which thing notwithstanding they have not used to do, but upon most urgent and extreme necessity, after long sufferance and seeking of redress by all reasonable means with most dutiful iutreatance, submission, supplication, and humility:) It may plainly appear, that the state of the low countries is not an absolute Monarchy or heritable kingdom, after the manner of this Realm, and of France, and such other like: but a State with condition, terminable, and not to continued any longer than the Lord whom they do so accept, upon hope of his good government, doth continued in reigning and ruling according to his oath taken at his entry. Which if he violate, then are they by the same his oath discharged of their subjection and obedience to him, and have full authority and free liberty both to resist him and his Officers, and also to choose and take to them any other head or Sovereign that will be more friendly and beneficial to their Country, as appeareth by that solemn and authentic deed of Duke john, dated at Louane the fourth of may. 1420. and by divers other Records to the same effect. Whereupon it followeth, that this justification of the Prince of Orendge, and of such as take his part, and of the case wherein they stand, is most just and rightful even in these respects, though there were no further proofs, wberof notwithstanding there are very many in this treatise following. Thus I commit thee to God, who give thee the spirit of judgement, to discern according to truth, that thou be not lead into error, to allow the thing that is evil, or to condemn the thing that is good.   

¶ A justification of the Prince of Orendge, against his slanderers.  
SUch as have experience of the affairs of states and common weals, are well able to discern them that seek to trouble the trauquilitie and quiet of the public weal, through ambition and desire of private commodity, and do take all manner of strange and unaccustomed kind of dealings, which men of power, credit, and authority do use, to be sure and infallible tokens of like drifts. And therefore to show who have been the chief ringleaders and authors of the troubles that have happened in the low Country: the only thing to be considered, is, who they were that had cause to desire innovation in that Country, for any commodity or profit which they looked for, and were the first beginners and putters thereof in execution.  
For the doing whereof, in my opinion it is necessary to set down the state of the said low Country, in such wise as it was before the late troubles, and after the wars, which as well the late right high and cenoumed Emperor Charles, as the king of Spain, Princes of the same low Country, and sovereign Lords of the subjects there, maintained in manner continually by the space of ten years together, against the French king. Which state was such, that although in the mean season the people were in some unquietness, by reason of the Inquisition and Injunctions that were observed in divers Provinces in the case of Religion, which unquietness augmented daily more and more through the increase of the Religion, and through the rigour of the Injunctions 
a It appeareth by the Injunctions put forth in the years, 1521. 1526. 1529. 1531. 40. 44. 46. 50. 56. and others.  (which grew so extreme, and so far out of all square, as it was a wonder that they were suffered and born withal so long time, and so patiently in so free a Country,) as shallbe declared hereafter: yet notwithstanding it was evidently seen, that in all other respects the subjects were ready, not only to yield all due obedience, but also to spend their bodies and goods for his majesties sake.  
For the Nobility behaved themselves with incredible courage and forwardness in the said wars, and the States of the Country did freely and of their own accord give an incredible mass of money towards the charges thereof, amounting fully to the sum of forty millions of Florins: & that so willingly, as there was never any sign of ini●…ikyng perceived for the matter: by reason whereof it might well have been thought, that the Country was so affectioned towards his majesty, as they would not have spared any thing for the maintenance of his state and honour against his enemies. And therefore his majesty might easily thereby assure himself thereof against all foreign powers.  
And for as much as it is a natural thing, that all great services and well doings should engender trust: it could not be, but that the said country, (namely the Noble men in consideration that by their peril, bloodshed, & prowess his majesty had achieved so many honourable victories, and the commons, for that he had dispatched so long and tedious a war with so great honour, by their succour, aid, and a●…istaunce,) must needs be in great hope that his majesty would have regard of their so great dutifulness and notable service, when so ever occasion were offered. By means whereof a man might also have openly warranted the Country from all inward troubles and commotions.  
For when the subject can look for nothing but well at his Prince's hand, he continueth the more willingly and earnestly in his obedience. So that considering how the state of the Country flourished by the intercourse of all kinds of traffic and merchandise, and of all other things depending thereupon: although it were sore nipped by the former wars, and overcharged, & in manner oppressed with tallages, impostes, and exactions laid upon them by reason of the said sums of money, which they had granted to be levied for the charge of the said wars: yet is it most apparent, that being sure from enemies with out, and united with their Prince within, and maintained with privileges & ordinances according to the time, it would not only have been refreshed & set clear, & discharged of all dettes, but also have attained to that top of all worldly felicity within few years.  
By means whereof his Majesty coming to be renowned and feared of strangers: and to be reverenced & loved of his subjects, might have been taken for the greatest king & happiest Prince of his time. In somuch as it must needs be confessed, that they which have been the hinderers of this prosperity & happy state, by breaking the said union, & by turning away the said affection, have committed so great an offence to the damage of his Majesty and of the common weal, that they deserve to be punished and chastised to the example of others. And I believe, that all such as see the country at this present, how it is brought from so apparent felicity to extreme wretchedness, bondage, and misery, wil●…e of mine opinion, and judge as I do. And we William of Nassaw Prince of Orendge being taken for the 
b It appeareth by the writ of Summones dated the nineteeen. of january and by the Proclamation the 24. of the same month inserted in 〈◊〉 end hereof.  author of this alteration, by the Attorney general, according to the letters patents of summons & citation, refuse not the said punishment, in case that the suggestion of the said Attorney be true. Who to pretend some cause and occasion that might have provoked us thereto, and having not any likelihood that we would enterprise it without cause: allegeth that our ambition and unordinate desire of authority was the cause of it. Whereupon it followeth that the final cause of our doings and attempts should be honour, desire of dealings and extraordinary authority.  
But to bereave the Attorney of that ground, whereupon he pretendeth to build his accusation: it might suffice for such as are acquainted with our person, to allege mine own natural disposition, which is nothing inclined to such desires: and for other men, to allege the portion of worldly substance, wherewith God of his grace hath endued us by good government & order, where through we might rather hope for advancement and authority, then by any other kind of dealings. For all men must needs grant, that to get us home to our own house and to live privately, was a much better mean to gather treasure and riches, whereby to get, preserve, and maintain authority: than to spend wastefully in the Court in hope thereof by usurping superiority upon us. For they that have any understanding at all of our dealings, do know very well that I never passed for any superiority. And in as much as the country is so affectionate to his majesty, as is said afore, there is nothing more unlikely than to charge us with intent of usurpation, above the authority of him and of the country.  
Specially seeing I was always of opinion, that his Majesty should rather keep still his subjects in the said love & good will, by mitigating of his Edicts, than turn them away from it, by proceeding with new devices of rigour: which is the only point & mean whereby it might have been pretended, that we would have attained to the foresaid attempt. For it cannot be denied, but that love & good will are the means whereby a Prince may maintain his authority and keep his country. And therefore it must needs be confessed, that in being of that opinion, we sought the preservation of his Majesty, and not the usurping of authority over h●…n. Now then whereas others were of opinion that it was more expedient that his state should be maintained by rigour: it followeth of necessity that I was of contrary opinion unto them, only as touching the mean of the maintaining thereof, but not as touching the maintenance and preservation itself, which thing experience showeth to be unpossible to be done by rigour, so long as the foresaid countries continued in this apparent prosperity, wherein my desire was that they should have been maintained, under his majesties jurisdiction: which thing was (next Gods service) the only cause that I allowed not the rigour of the foresaid Inquisition & Ed●…tes.  
Whereof all our other doings also will bear record, in that they be alienated or rather clean contrary to all ambition. For even before that time, I had given over my room which I had in the Counsel of Estate, & the office of Lord Treasurer 
c It appeareth by the commissions dispatched thereupon and sent back again. An. 1558.  apparent places to win the attendance & suit of all the states, yea & to bring as it were the overruling of all affairs to my hands, if I had listed, & whereof other men had so good skill to make their own gain. But God be thanked, I was so far of from such meaning, that when I see I could not do his Majesty good service in those offices as I would ●…aine have done, by reason of the practices of other men that letted me: I surrendered them both into his hands. And yet notwithstanding, like as his Majesty after our said demeanour, and upon the surrender of our commissions, left not to call us often times to counsel: so we on our part have discharged ourselves as much as is possible, in counselling him what we thought best for his service, and for the benefit of the country. And it was a great hart-breaking to us, to see that a two or three people should so overthrow his majesties good meaning.  
Nevertheless whereas his Majesty having known the sincerity of my dealings, and my forwardness in his service of all that time, and being then in Zealand on his way towards Spain, ●…treated me very earnestly to take upon me again the state of a Counsellor: I after much excusing of myself, obeyed him. Howbeit when I see afterward, that things kept on their wont trade, and went far otherwise than his Majesty had put me in hope of: I sewed to be put of again about a ij. years after. 
d It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 23. of july. 1561.  And for as much as I see them endeavour by all means to bring the country to bondage, (which some men term full obedience) as shallbe showed hereafter: because I would have no occasion to deal with that point, which seemed to tend wholly to the hindrance of his Majesty and of the common weal: I made the more earnest suit and intreatance to be discharged of my government, that I might withdraw myself, and intent wholly to mine own private affairs, and not be blamed for the inconneniences that were like to ensue thereof. To the which end 
e It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 11. of March 1562. & the 29. of july. 1563.  I made divers suits, as well to his Majesty, as also to the Regent, yea even more than once after the putting up of the petition of the Confederates, which is so greatly 
f It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 20. of April, & the. 27. of May. 1566.  defamed by our adversaries.  
And surely if I had been any thing suspected of ambition, it is not likely that his Majesty would have refused to remove me: at jest wise he would not so often ha●…e expressly commanded and instantly requested me, to be contented to 
g It appeareth by the king's letters dated the 2●…. of Sept. 〈◊〉. & the 6. of I●…ne. 〈◊〉. & the 31. of july. 1566.  continued in office still. For it is a plain case, that such as are doubted to be ambitious, aught to be removed from all authority and government. And therefore his majesties causing of me to continued in the said rooms & offices, is a plain proof directly against the allegation of the foresaid Attorney general, that neither before nor after his majesties departing from these low Countries, I was never suspected of any ambitious desire of usurping authority over him or his countries. Nay rather it appeareth sufficiently thereby, that I desired nothing so much, as to be discharged of all administration and authority.  
And if a man consider how that after 
The usurpation of the Cardinal of Granuil.  the kings departure, the managing of all affairs was in the hands of the Cardinal Granuil, and how jealous the Cardinal was of his own estate: (insomuch as it was his common fashion to 'cause all such to be quite banished & shut out from all authority and meddling in matters of state, as seemed in any wise able to hinder the increase and continuance of his superiority: as for example, in the time of the late renowned Emperor Charles, he persuaded his Majesty to admit no Lords of great valour to the affairs of the Empire, nor any such as might deface or diminish his authority: after the which manner (to come to particularities) he dealt with the Lord Ferdinando Gonzaga Governor of Milan, and with Reinart a counselor here: insomuch that while the Cardinal had the ordering of the affairs of Italy, the said Lord Ferdinando was fain to give over his government there, and even unto his dying day, to follow the suit of a certain criminal action, commenced against him by the Cardinal's means, thereby to get the Spaniards the full superiority of that country, like as they had of all other the king's dominions in Italy: And the said Reynart is constrained to leave his house, wife, children, & goods here in the low country, & to get him into Spain, where he is like to end his days as an exiled and banished man:) he shall not found it any thing likely, that if I had go about to usurp authority above the king by my government, (which thing I could not have done without diminishing of the Cardinal's authority) I should have been held still in the said offices: but rather contrariwise after the examples afore mentioned, I should have been driven to leave them unrequested, or at leastwise I should have had leave to departed from them upon my first suit, and much rather upon mine often renewing of my suits afterward.  
But the Cardinal knowing my nature to be utterly void of all ambition, and that in very deed I cou●…ted not to have any dealings at all, and much less any great and extraordinary dealings, whereby I might have seemed to overmatch him in authority: was well willing to seek means to keep me still in office, thereby to blear the eyes of the people, of whom he knew himself to be sore hated, & by ours and other men's means to make his own doings to seem better than they were, after the example of Dennis the Tyrant of S●…ilie, who entertained such men of his counsel, as the people had good opinion of, not to the intent to use their advice, (as he bore them in hand) but only to make a countenance that he used it.  
And after the departure of the said Cardinal, when occasion was offered me to have bewrayed mine am●…ion, if any had been in me: it was never sen●… that I took any thing at all upon me above others, were it never so little: but that I yielded the Duchess of Parma, them Governess, the authority that belonged unto her, and which the said Cardinal had usurped from her, making her (as he had done the rest of the Co●…sayle) but as a cloak and shadow to shroud his own doings: insomuch that the Duchess did afterward openly declare and confess, that she understood more of the affairs of the Country, within a few months after the Cardinals going away, than she had done of all the time that he was about her.  
And when as afterward at the first troubles she was minded to have forsaken the town of Brussels, and to have withdrawn herself to Mons, leaving all things to their own sway, whereby she should have ministered occasion to such as had listed, to encroach upon her authority: We with others made great suit and supplication unto her, requesting and beseeching her, that she would not do so great wrong to herself, nor so great dishonour and ●…yaltie to the king's majesty▪ Which dealing of ours showed well, that our deeds and thoughts have been clean contrary to ambition, whereof I am wrongfully accused at this present. And surely if I had had any intent to usurp the authority to myself alone: a more fit and convenient occasion or mean could not have been offered me, than to see the Regent accomplish her purpose. But because my meaning was clean contrary, I hindered it to the uttermost of my power, as is said afore.  
Also, when as it was informed his majesty, that it was expedient for his service, that the Counsel of the low Country should be augmented with Lords and men of learning, further authorized in some points, for preventing of all confusion and disorder, that they might be the better able to go thorough with a number of matters, & specially also to the end that the decrees & determinations of the same might be observed & take effect with the greater authority & regard, & all occasion be taken away from every man to usurp any authority or jurisdiction, or to seek his own commodity, to the loss of the common Weal: I being required by the Duchess to name some people meet to be preferred to that place, did shift my hands of it, because I would ge●…e no occasion of mistrust, that I would put in any man that were at my de●…otion, or with whom I had had familiarity: and I referred the whole to the kings majesty, without making of any countenance of minding mine own peculiar profit.  
Whereupon it may be inferred, that we be not only wrongfully, but also without all likelihood of truth accused of practising to usurp against his majesty, through ambition and desire of government and superiority, and for the same purpose to have troubled the peace and tranquillity of that country, to the which we be in manner as much beholden, as to our own native soil: yea, and that without having any regard to our own loss & hindrance, which we should needs openly incur by reason of the po●…ōs that we have in the same Country, if it should be in any trouble, insomuch as our welfare, hindrance, or damage are inseparable from that Country.  
For whereas the nature of ambitious folks is to desire to reign alone, with foredetermination to exclude all others: I contrariwise have not only given ●…y consent, that the Counsel should be ●…reased, & the authority cōmunicate●… to many: but also have offered to departed out of it, to give room to others, where of the Regent & they that are of the said Counsel can be witnesses.  
Therefore it is meet to seek more apparent causes of the troubles some where else, and for the accomplishment thereof, to consider, that the said countries were very jealous for the preservation of the●… liberties and franchises which they had as well by virtue of covenants made with their Princes, as by force of privilege obtained by them, and specially of the Emperors of old time, for fear lest they might be deprived of them by bringing in of strangers, and namely of the Spanyardes, because 
The practices of the Cardinal.  the forenamed Cardinal had said, that the king should never keep well those countries, unless he maintained a power of Spanyardes there, and caused the Pope to assoil him of the oath that he made to them at their receiving of him, and conquered them new again, so as he might abolish all the said covenants and privileges, and rule them as he listed: which thing he said could not be brought to pass, without the cutting of, of iiij. or five of the chief princes heads.  
By reason whereof all innovations become so much the more suspicious & odious, the rather because that in the time of the last wars, the extreme rigour of the Inquisition and Injunctions had been meetly well moderated and bridled, and liberty procured by the bringing in of the almain soldiers (wherewith they were enforced to strengthen themselves) to make Sermons openly among them as well in Cities as in Towns, and secretly also among others in many ●…o places, besides that the doctrine which is contrary ●…o the doctrine of Rome, was received already in all the countries thereabouts: by means whereof the state of Religion was so advanced from time to time by the space of so many years together in that country so well peopled and haunted on all sides, that in the end men abhorred the very name of the said Inquisition & Injunctions, 
Horrible persecutions.  whereby an exceeding multitude of folk, that is to wit, above fifty thousand people had been most cruelly executed and put to death, and the ●…ke number been or●…en to forsake their goods, parents, friends and kinsfolk, and to live continually in miserable exile, only (as was s●…ne and perceived every day more evidently than other) because they would not serve from God's commandments, and follow men's inventions.  
Which thing only did breed an alteration, but also so great a hartburning against the Inquisition & Injunctions in divers respects, that in many places the officers dared not proceed any more to the execution of them, but by night & by stealth, and that not without peril and danger of trouble. And they themselves can witness, whither they had not much ado oftentimes to save their lives from the rage of the commons, moved to displeasure at the pitiful beholding of so horrible executions.  
Whereby all they that had experience in ma●…ters of state, foresaw that that only point would be an occasion of great trubles, if it were not wisely prevented in tyme.  
The which inconvenience and divers others the Lady 
* The Queen of Hungary.  Mary governess of that Country feary●…g even in her time, went in proper person to Awspurg in the year. 1550, unto Charles the late Emperor of most happy memory, to assuage & mitigate the rigour of the Injunctions 
h It appeareth by the Proclamation set forth in April. 1550.  that were then a setting forth, and to procure the holding back of the Inquisition from the City of Andwerp and the Country of Brabant, & from other places that had not yet been subject to it: Which thing she obtained at his majesties hand. 
i It appee●…th by the Injunction set forth in Septem. 1550.  Nevertheless the foresaid Cardinal wi●… his creatures & Inquisitors, ceased not their persecutions and practises, whereat the people did greatly murmur and grudge.  
Yea and they practised a great point of suttel●…ie: for in the beginning of the king's majesties reign which was the year 1555. they got out letters of commission in his name to assist the Inquisitors. 
k It appeareth by the Commission set forth. 1555. and by the letters of revocation granted afterward.  And although they were revoked incontinently after, as soon as his Majesty was infor●…ed of the things that were a●…edged against the Inquisition: yet did it 'cause a great heart-burning among the people when they see their manner of dealing. And therefore at his majesties departing, they had their eye upon him that should be appointed general governor of the Country: and that so much the more, because the states in general had much 〈◊〉 at that time ●…o obtain at his Majesties had, that the Spanish soldiers wherewith the Cardinal minded to fortify himself, should be withdrawn out of the Country.  
Which thing the Cardinal also (then Bishop of Arras) foreseeing at length, notwithstanding that he intended in effect to have the government of the country alone. Yet did so much that the title and name of Regent or Governess was given to the Duchess of Parma, (who at that time had no ●…perience of the affairs and dispositions of the low countries, 〈◊〉 she had continued always in Italy, and therefore should be fain to refer herself to that which he should persuade her): and to countenance his doings the better, he had caused the king before his departure, to ordain a counsel of estate, wherein certain of the chief Knights of the order were appointed deputies, and among the rest we also, notwithstanding our refuzall, as is said afore. For the Cardinal perceiving himself to be counted an enemy to all liberties fraunchizes and privileges that might hinder his proceedings, & to be the chief Author, Ringleader and furtherer of the Inquisition and of the execution of the Co●…missions: known very well that the people of those countries would not have suffered his Go●…ernement without setting of themselves against it even at the first.  
Now than whereas the rest & tranquillity of the Country was upheld under this shadow countenance & covert, that the affairs were managed by the authority of the said Regent, and by the advice of the said Counsel of estate: this vizor was anon after plucked of & laid bore by the Cardinals own ambition and unaduized dealing: For within a while after the kings departure, he began to deal with all matters of i●…portaunce alone by himself, or with some one or two that hung upon his sleeve, without making the Regent privy to them as he aught to have done, & without communicating or propounding of them to the Counsel of estate: saying openly to the deputies of the Provinces and Cities, that it behoved them to repair to him and to none other, if they would come to a good end and have ready dispatch of their matters: and yet nevertheless bearing the Lords of the Counsel in hand, that they should answer all alike for the inconveniences if any happened: Which thing seemed very strange and unreasonable to some of the Counsel, who also advertised the king thereof by their letters according as he had left order that they should do in such caces.  
And they certified his majesty therewithal, how that of a Bishop he was become a Cardinal, and one Viglius a Pries●…, one of the chief about him was made Precedent, and the report went, that there should be new bishoprics and incorporations of Abbeys and Prelacies, 
l It appeareth by the Bulls of Paul the 4. & P●…s the fourth.  and an executing of the determinations of the Council of Trent, (things agreed upon by his majesty before his departure by the connsayle of the two aforesaid, and of three or four others that went about to satisfy their own ambition and 〈◊〉 thereby) wherethrough the people was sore vexed and disqu●…ted, insomuch as there was no member nor degree of them, which felt not itself greatly touched with it. For the Lords and Noble men were of 
Innovations ●…ade by the ●…ardinall.  opinion, that this authority of the Cardinal and his new bringing in of Bishops, which should rely altogether upon him, tended to their depressing, to the putting of the government and rule of the Country into the hands of the Churchmen, and to the depriving, not only of all oth●…r men, but also of the kings majesty, to whom the said Churchmen could find in their hearts, nother to yield nor to own any obedie●…ce at all: And that the Abbeys, Prelacies, Covents, 
Incorporation of Abbeys.  and Colleges should serve but to enrich the said Bishops with their spoils, specially by incorporating the Abbeys and Prelacies, whereby they should bereave them of all election and hope of attainment to their accustomed dignities. And the p●…ple were of opinion, that that was the high way to infringe all their libertis, franchises, & privileges & to bring in the Inquisition, & to renew the rigour of the Injunctions, & finally to bring them in bondage to the clergy. Which things were the very causes and welsprings of all the distrusts, troubles, & mischiefs that ensued afterward, (in as much as some would have put the things in execution, which those good counsellors had persuaded his majesty to do, who aught of right to be blamed and rebuked for their so doing) whereof they go about to clear the Cardinal, and to charge us therewith, without any colour or likelihood at al.  
And although it appear in histories that alterations, troubles, and rebellio●…s have happened upon less occasions: yet notwithstanding, that Country was so entirely affectioned towards their sovereign Lord & prince, as those causes had not yet taken their ordinary and accustomed effects, because it was hoped, that the States of the Country being commended to his Majesty by their 〈◊〉 and service done in the former wars, might turn his mind, so as he would rather apply his determinations to the time, and stop all new devices, yea, and the proceedings of the Bishops, and the Inquisition, and the rigorous Injunctions at the request of so loyal and faithful a people, according to their treaties and privileges: than to further so unmeasurable alterations, at the pleasure of a stranger, and of certain unknown people, against the opportunity of the time, the privileges of the Countries, his own promises, and in effect even nature itself: specially considering that the troubles in France were stirred up at the same time, by occasion of Ordinances and Edicts tending to like effect, howbeit, that the Realm of France is not so frequented, and on all parts so enclosed and environed with Countries that follow the Religion, contrary to the romish Religion, as the said low countries are.  
And their hope was, that he would do it so much the rather, because the said innovations began also to be misliked of strangers, namely of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Empire, whose jurisdiction within their own diocese, was impeached by the foresaid erection of the new bishoprics: and that his Majesty would reap none other profit by them, than to bestow his authority upon such as made open profession, that they would never think themselves beholden to him for it.  
In respect of which reasons and other like, which every man did set before him, according to the capacity of his wit, and specially upon hope, which the said Countries, as well generally as particularly conceived of his majesties goodness, for as much as he no less than his predecessors, had always dealt reasonably with them by justice, and according to the customs of their countries, and that wherein soever they found themselves grieved, they had been wont to open it unto his majesty, by way of request and complaint: their desire was to take the same way now also, and thereby to advertise his majesty of the said innovations and inconuenicnces that were like to ensue, if they were not remedied out of hand: in consideration whereof, as well on the behalf of the Regent, as of the Lords assembled in counsel, (whom the Cardinal bore in hand (as is said afore) that they should be burdened with all inconveniences that might ensue, as well as he) the Baron of Mountignie, a knight of the Order was 
m In August. 1562.  sent to his Majesty in post, with all speed that might be, with charge & instructions to show the state & necessity of the Countries, & their general misliking of the said innovations, which made the Noble men and states of the Country to surcease all further and particular pursuit of the matter, in hope that his Majesty would upon such declaration, take order for some amendss, or at leastwise for some mitigation of those points, wherewith they found themselves distressed and grieved: the rather, in as much as for the staying of the incorporation of the Prelacies and Abbeys then vacant in Brabant, the Prelates & other Noble men of the Country, (like as they of Andwerp also had done) had sent their 
n In February. 1562.  deputies afore to 
o In May. 1562.  stop the Inquisition, and the bringing in of the new Bishop: which thing held the Country for a time in suspense without any commotion or trouble, upon hope that by those deputies of there's, they should obtain some such good redress and composition, as the state of the case required.  
But yet notwithstanding the state 
Assemblies at Sermons & to here preachings.  of Religion went forward still on all sides, in so much that in some places, men began to preach, not only secretly, (which thing could never yet be letted by any rigour) but also openly: namely at Ualenciennes, Tournay, and divers other places, the occasions whereof were given, or at leastwise increased, by the liberty of the Religion agreed upon in France, for to their seeming, they had deserved no less at the hands of their king and prince, than the Frenchmen had at there's, and in as much as they had in many respects been dealt withal after the same manner that the Frenchmen had been, they thought also that they deserved to obtain liberty of conscience, as well as they. And it was evident to be seen, that (in as much as those low countries were environed with others that followed euerycho●…e the contrary religion, and that their maintenance stood upon the intercourse of merchandise, and upon the recourse and traffic of their neighbours thither:) it was unpossible for them to observe che ancient ordinances and laws of Religion any more, by which laws although men had go about to root up all Religion quite and clean, yet notwithstanding it was found by experience, that it grew and increased even in the greatest rigour of all, and therefore that it is utterly unpossible to enforce or constrain Religion or conscience, at leastwise any furtherforth than to a kind of dissimulation.  
Notwithstanding all this, the Cardinal continued his bringing in of the said Bishops, & his investing of them, encroaching to himself the archbishopric of Mechline (by virtue whereof he intended to sit as Metropolitan and Primate of those countries, and to devour the Abbey of afflighem, which is the richest in all Braband, next to the Abbey of Saint Amand, which he had seized into his possession already) and parting the residue among so unfit and unmeet people, that men mocked at them openly. And although those investitures were made in some Cities without any open withstanding, yet was it easy to be perceived, that many folk misliked of it, and some also did set themselves even openly against it, namely they of Andwerpe, of Grooning, of Leedward, of Deventer, and of Ruermond.  
And it was easy to see whereto these doings tended, in as much as the Cardinal (who overruled all the counsellors, yea and the Regent herself, and had so absolute power and authority) was become the head of all those Bishops, who by reason of their unfitness and lack of experience, should hung all upon him, by means whereof he took more upon him than ever any prince of the Country had done. And to maintain, stablish, increase, and augment his authority by forcible means, he had set forward the Inquisition and the Injunctions aforesaid. And to pleasure me withal, he had at his commandment, the giving, distributing, & bestowing of all the kings offices, Benefices, and Fees, and likewise of the Regentes, also over and beside the helps that he had of his own and of his said Bishops. So that in conclusion he had opened himself the right way to get & maintain superiority over the king & his Countries. And moreover, to be advertised truly of things that were done every where, and to hold in with the Kings and Princes that were next neighbours: he had as it were in his hand & at his beck, all the kings Ambassadors, Agentes, and deputies, and among others, his own brother also, who did set the affairs of France in such a broil, that for the benefit and quietness of the same realm, the queen there did make very earnest request to the kings Majesty to take him thence.  
Therefore whosoever looketh well to these things, shall eazly be able to judge who it was that took upon him authority above the kings Majesty: namely whither it was we which used not any of the foresaid means, (but utterly misliked all innovations: and had once afore refuzed to be of the Counsel and given over the office of thief treazurer, desiring nothing so much as to have been spared afterward again from Counsel in matters of estate and from office of government, and specially from that Counsel): or the Cardinal which bore all the sway, & by his innovations & extraordinary dealings, showed himself to have the said authority, with intent to stablish and maintain himself in the same by their means, yea and in far greater than ever any Prince of the Country had.  
Surely I am of opinion, that such as consider well the things aforesaid and judge of them without affection, shall find as little reason why men should go about to accuze us in this behalf, as why they should excuse the said Cardinal.  
But when as the deputies of the Prelates had by means of rewards and pensions obtained, that the Incorporation of the Abbeys should not go forward: and when as the men of Andwerp had obtained that no man should molest them with the Inquisition, & that they should be winked at concerning the bringing in of the new Bishop: for a●…uch as the said Lord of Mountignie was returned without sufficient resolution for the remedying of other inconveniences, so as there was smalf hope that matters should be redressed, in as much as by means of the said Pensions the doings of the Bishops (whose only labour was to bring in the Inquisition) was furthered, and it was practised to disappoint the men of Andwerp of the benefit of winking at them, & to bring them in subjection to the Cardinal, & under the archbishopric of Mechlyne: the Regent thought it good by the advice of her Counsel, to inform the king once again of the state of the Country, and specially of Ualemcien & Turnay, where it seemed utterly impossible to keep the people from the exercise of the Religion, without a continual garrison. Whereupon her highness scent a Counsellor of hers named 
p The year 1564.  Armenteros to his Majesty, so that in conclusion it was fully resolved by him, that the Cardinal the apparent author of all the alterations and discontentementes, should get him out of the Country: which thing did give the people some contentation and hope of amendment of their state.  
But forasmuch as the Cardinal's creatures continued still their innovations, & managed all affairs in his absence after the same manner that he himself had observed: the former disorders returned by and by again. And it was unpossible to remedy them, because of the disagreement that was between the three chief Counsels, that is to wit, the Counsel of the States, the private Counsel, and the Counsel of the Exchequer, which were all three overruled in effect by the Cardinal and his creatures, but yet in such wise as they could never come to agreement among themselves. Wherein a man may note the notable lewdness and wiliness of the Cardinal, who to keep the rest of the said Counsel of the estates from doing such servis to the king as they would have done, had utterly excluded them from all entrance & intermeddling with checkermatters and matters of Law, and from all such orders as were taken in government or otherwise, knowing well that without the intelligence of them, it was impossible for them to consult & determine well of most matters of importance all which drift tended to the retaining and stablishing of his own authority. And yet for all that, he laboureth to accuze us & others of high treazon, because that for the better servis of the king, we desired to have the secrets of the said Courts communicated to the Counsel of the estates, as a needful thing for the discharge of our duties, whereas in the mean season, he himself, & after him the Precedent Uiglius overruled all the said three Counsels, as though that of right all authority had belonged to him and his, and that on the contrary part it had been a heinous crime and offence for other men to require any part of the same authority to be conveyed over, not unto us which do offer to departed from the same Counsel, but to the whole chief counsel together. Such is the sincerity whereby they proceed at this present in the low country, for the preser●…atiō of the king's authority as they bear men in hand.  
For as much therefore as the affairs of the Country were so dissevered, as it was not possible for the Lords of the chief Counsel (whom they went about to burden with all the inconveniences, that might happen) to prenent & redress the same incō●…niences & thereby to set forward the servis of his Majesty, for want of authority & conference with the other counsels: & forasmuch as the people see that the new Bishops, by reason of their unfitness & their disordered life & behaviour, (which was so great that the Regent was fain to call them before her and to rebuke them,) could not serve to do any good to the Country, & that the pride, the threatenings, & the other manner of dealings used by them and their followers, bewrayed that it was decreed at 
q It appeareth by the foresaid Bulls of the Popes and the Decree of the seven Cardinals.  Rome that every Bishop should have ix. prebends affectioned to help forward the Inquisition, whereof two should be Inquisitors themselves, by reason whereof they should serve to none other purpose, but to set forward & establish the Inquisition: To the end they might by his majesties good means 
The County of Egmonds' journey into Spain.  encounter the mischiefs that were like to spring of the things aforesaid the Counsel thought it good to 
r In the beginning of the year. 1565.  sand unto his Majesty the Prince of Gawre earl of Egmond: who at his return gave great hope and likelihood of some am●…ment and redress of matters, as in respect of mitigating the Injunctions and of abolishing the Inquisition, upon the performance or not performance whereof it was to be seen openly both in deed and by experience, (as well by the example of France (as hath been said afore) as otherwize,) that the commotion or appeasement of the people depended, and therefore that all that ever insewed afterward was to be imputed unto them, and not to any ambition of ours as they pretended. 
s In the S●…mer. 1565.  For to the purpose above mentioned there met together iij. Bishops, three Divines, three professers of the Civil law, & three other of the Canon law: whose advice being taken concerning the foresaid mitigation, was sent to the kings Majesty: but by the instigation of the Cardinal and others that were continewally tickling him in the ear, he had no regard of it (notwithstanding that it was still overrigorous,) nor yet to the former informations, but 
The kings resolution. t It appeareth by the extractes of the kings letters sent abroad by the Regetes letters dated the 18. Decemb. 1565 both the which are inserted in the end.  commanded expressly in the end of the. 1565. year, t that without any further replying, they should proceed to the bringing in of the new Bishops who were not as yet installed, and to the publication of the Decrees of the Counsel of Trent, and to give the Inquisitors the authority that belonged to them by the Civil and Canon law, and moreover to execute the Injunctions in very deed with all rigour immediately upon the receipt of his letter.  
Hereof were divers Copies and extractes sent abroad by-and-by to all Cities, and they were enjoined and charged to conform themselves to his ma●…iesties resolution and commandment, which was the second and chief cause of all the alterations, mischiefs and inconveniences that followed afterward, the very fountain whereof was not any ambition of ours, but the ambition of the Cardinal & the distrust that he had caused among the people by his foresaid innovations, as appeareth evidently by that which hath been said, and is confirmed by the 
v It appeareth by the reports and requests exhibited in Court.  complaints made afterward by the Cities of Graband and the members of Fla●…nders and other places, matched with the confederacy that was made anon after between certain Lords and Gentlemen, against the Inquisition and the rigour of the foresaid Injunctions.  
Wherefore it hath no likelihood of 
Words taken out of the Summons.  truth that the Attorney General allegeth, namely that we should have been the cause of the said confederacy, by persuading certain people that the king meant to bring in the Spanish Inquisition, as though the manner and form of the Inquisition, rather than the effect & execution of it should 'cause men to make insurrection. Which is a thing so 〈◊〉 the more against reason, for as much as it is not the quality of death that putteth men in fear & causeth them to make mutinies, insurrections, and uproars, but the very terror of death itself: specially in this present case, where by the adding of this word Spanish, nother the quality nor the kind of punishment is pu●…ishment, but only the generalname of Inquisition is restrained to the particular name of Spanish: which is no sufficient cause to make men to ry●…e and to rebel. Howbeit, that to speak more pe●…emptorily, I say plainly, it lay neither in me nor in any others▪ to make men believe that his Majesty intended to bring in the Spanish Inquisition, for as much as there had never been any m●…tion made of tha●… Inquisition befor●…: and that afterward the form of the ●…quisition that was to be set forth, was she wed expressly by the kings 〈◊〉, in manner hereafter written, whereby they be readily convinced, which 〈◊〉 that the people were 〈◊〉 up and moved to 〈◊〉 by mean●…s of this 
The Inquisition was the fountain of all the alterations in the low Country.  word Spanish.  
For as much then as the Inquisition 〈◊〉 and declared by his 〈◊〉 sai●…e letters, was the cause of the po●…ples displeasure, and that there was no further hope of remedy to be looked for: it followeth, that all the things that ensued afterward, are to be wyted upon it, & not upon any other thing, and consequently that it is not true, that I by my like inductions & persuasions, had caused many of his majesties subjects to rise and to rebel against him, or that I had so seduced, corrupted, and provoked a great part of the Nobility aforehand, that they made leagues, conspiracies, & conjurations, and had sworn to defend and fortify themselves thereby against his Majesty and his ordinances that had been kept and observed at all times afore, and that to the same end there had been certain meetings kept in my houses, as well at Breda, as at Brussels, by means whereof I should have been the chief head, author, furtherer, favourer, and barbro ●…gher of Rebels, Conspiters', Coniurators, privy practisers, and troublers of the cominon weal and quietness.  
For there appeareth not any rebellion or commotion made against his majesty, whereof we should be bound to answer. And as for the said confederacy, it came not by our occasion, but by reason of the distresses that were caused by the said Inquisition and Injunctions, and by infrindging the promises made the years. 1550. 1555. 1562. 1565. and at other times, as hath been showed heretofore: and therefore the troubling of the common Weal, and the dist●…rbing of the peace of the Country, are to be imputed to themselves and to the Cardinal's ambition, & not to so fond persuasions & impressions, as the term of Spanish Inquisition, & such like. For no less fond is that allegation, than were the words of him, 
* Viglius.  who thought to stay all innovations, by saying that the king meant not to establish an Inquisition, but only a visitation: as who should say, men respected more the word than the deed, and were more hasty to make insurrection for the terms of Inquisition and Spanish, than for the rigour and cruelty that they had seen and were afraid of by the execution of the Injunctions.  
And therefore I say, that the said confederacy and complaints, and all the ●…est of the things that ensued, did but only show the effect of that which we had told the Lady Regent asorehand, in open counsel, that we feared would come to pass: that is to wit, that his majesties said resolution would 'cause some great alteration, specially by reason of the hope that a number had conceived upon the return and report of the said Lord the County of Egmond. 
x It appeareth by two letters sent in the beginning of the year 1566.  And whereas I written the same thing in effect to her highness afterward: she confessed to us by her answer, that she perceived clearly how the said resolution was the cause of all the troubles: and therefore (as is said) the said confederacy being made without my knowledge or advice, aught not to be imputed thereunto. For when I was advertised of it within a while after, (as it were a fifteen days or thereabouts) before the confederates were mar●…es, I protested openly and ●…atly, that I liked not of it, ne thought it to be the right means to maintain the quietness and tranquillity of the common Weal.  
It is very true that I esteemed it not as a rebellion, con●…piracie, or conjuration, because the confederates stood st●…dfastly upon this point, that they meant not to do or attempt any thing against the welfare of his Majesty and of his Country, 
y It appea●…eth by the ●…xpresse ●…ordes of ●…he confederacy sig●…ed with ●…heir hands.  wherein they were of the same opinion that we be, confirmed by common experience, which was, that the Inquisition and rigour of the Injunctions could never come to good, in so much that by the examples which we had seen afore in Almain, France, Ingland, and Scotland, we were driven to confess that the kings resolution in that behalf, could not but bring great waste, desolation, & destruction to those countries, without any furtherance of his proceed: whereas on the contrary part it was to be seen, that the Countries which have the liberty of Religion, or at leastwise of conscience, and where the Inquisition and the rigour of the Injunctions is not put in execution, continued in rest and quiet: which is an evident proof, that to live without the Inquisition in liberty of conscience, is an other manner of thing, than to live loosely, lawlessly, and without order, as some have falsely and slanderously reported: for otherwise the princes of Germany, which set as much store by the rest and quietness of their Countries, as the kings majesty doth, would in no wise abide it, specially if they mistrusted that any disobedience would ensue of it.  
And was so much the more confirmed in this opinion, because the confederates showed not themselves stubborn, ne meant to obtain their request by force, but only sued that 
z It appeareth by the request of the confederates and the answer thereto, which are both inserted hereafter.  his majesty (who (said they) was abused by certain people, which under the colour and pretence of Religion, went about to satisfy their own ambition & covetousness) would vouchsafe to take intelligence of their complaint and suit, and thereupon follow the advice of his counsel, offering themselves to be ruled and lead accordingly as the same being duly informed, should decree concerning the matter of Religion. So that when they were once up in this rebellion, conspiracy, or conjuration, he aught to have inclined to their petition, and to have regard of their supplications, either in that they required to have their Noble men herded, or for that all confederacies▪ generally without exception, do stand in their own conceit, wherein I confess I liked none of both his majesties doings. For in my judgement, a Prince may be a●…sed: and therefore it is good reason that the subject, vassal, or what soever he is that is endamaged, should have leave to utter his grief. And Emperors and kings have been commended in that they have ●…uffered themselves to be rebuked by private people, for not seeming to give ear to their requests and complaints, as he was which suffered one to say to him in open str●…ate, If thou list not to hear our suits, list not to be our Emperor: and as an other was, who being a king and sovereign Lord, did notwithstanding suffer an old woman to appeal from him, because (as she said) he gave no ●…are to her matter.  
And seeing that in these low Countries, in cases of importances, whereupon both honour and goods depend, whether it be publicly or privately, men have been wont to refer themselves to the states, who have b●… of that authority, that in all times, yea & even in the time of Charles late the Emperor of happy memory, they have oftentimes assembled by reason of occurrents of like or less importance, yea, and even in the case of Religion, and an Edict by their advice, in the year. 1531. which was then published, as appeareth by the style and process thereof: let us not think it unlawful for us to require the same thing now which we see to have been done and used in like cases heretofore. And many good confederacies and holy leagues are found to have been made heretofore, (as for example, the confederacies of the Maccabees & other doings) and that men may make them still to the honour of God and to the prosperity of their kings and countries: So that in my judgement, there can no rebellion be inferred upon the points aforesaid.  
For as touching that the confederates did promise' and swear to maintain, help and defend one an other against the Inquisition and Injunctions: seeing that that promise might have been made to cease by the means aforesaid, and they offered in effect by their petition to go from it, because it seemed to be against the kings commodity, & to obey what soever should be ordained by the advice of the States: it seemeth against reason, that whereas hunters and others that deal with the taming of unreasonable beasts, do endeavour to put away their fierceness, moodiness, and wildness, by diligence, company, and cherishing, rather than by cudgeling, whipping, and roughness, the king should by the froward instigations of the Cardinal and his hangers on, use rigour and roughness towards so loyal subjects and faithful vassals, rather than mildness and clemency, to keep them at his accustomed devotion by surceasing (at leastwise for a time) the execution of the said Inquisition & Injunction, which (to all men's seemings) could not be set forward nor continued in that time, without apparent damage, hurt, & prejudice to his Majesty and Countries, specially seeing that the former wars had already as good as suspended and assuaged the rigour of them as is said afore, whereby it was come to some discontinewation, and the variances and alterations which had risen up since that time every where, seemed not to suffer that it should by any means be renewed and set up again.  
And it should seem that the Regent also was of the same mind: who before the coming of the confederates, said that she had considered aforehand of the mitigation of the 
a It appeareth by the purposed conceit of a new Edict.  Injunctions. And she had already on the king's behalf declared the Country, of 
b It appeareth by the agreement made the 24 of March. 1566. by the common Register of 1565. called the Register of Braband.  Braband to be exempted from the Inquisition, in somuch that nother at the first nor at the last (at leastwise until the time of my departure) she made not any countenance of accounting the said confederacy or the supplication presented upon the same, for any rebellion. Which thing I thought good to show, not of purpose to enter into any form of Protestation in respect o●…●…he confederacy, which toucheth not me (as appeareth by that which is said:) but only to show that there was no reason why I alone should take the confederates for rebels, & so seclude them from their accustomed resorting to my houses, in the which I am sure, that to my knowledge, there hath not any assembly been made, against the welfare honour, and prosperity of the Kings Majesty.  
And again seeing that the Lady Regent tendered the confederates so far by the kings commandment and by the advice of all his Counsel, as to promise then by letters signed with her own hand and sealed with her scale, 
c It appeareth by her letters of assurance dated the 25. of August. 1566. hereafter in serted.  that they should not be blamed for the same confederacy or for any thing that insewed thereupon: there was no reason that I should deal otherwise with them, or make any other account of them, than she had done. And if any man will say she did it to an other end, only to bring them a sleep & to serve her own turn by them against those that had overshoot thēs●…iues to far in the breaking down of images: it maketh nothing at all against our intention.  
For although it may be inferred there upon, that our meaning extended not so farforth: yet notwithstanding we agreed fully with the opinion of the king and of the Regent, in the point of keeping company with them, and in suffering them to haunt and frequent our houses. And therefore in so doing we have not letted or hindered, but rather furthered his majesties good proceedings and servis: or else at lest wise we have been deceived by the foresaid declaration of his Majesty and of the Lady Regent, which is a sufficient excuse for us against all pretended favouring & furthering of the confederates, for as much as they nother be nor were rebels, or at leastwise were not so counted and taken to be by the kings Majesty & the Lady Regent, and by all others in general. For it is to be noted that a general error or mistaking, especially where it is caused by the king or prince himself hath the force of Law and right.  
To the comformation whereof his majesty wrote unto us with his own hand in the month of August, 
d It appeareth by the kings letters of the first of August. 1566. the translation whero●… is inserted hereafter.  so that after that the said confederacy and the putting up of their suit came to his knowledge, he was very well contented with our servis, & misliked not of any thing that had passed willing us not to think the contrary, but that he did repose his whole trust in us, and believed not the things wherewith some malicious people charged us, in saying that we did our duty very ill, and many such other words.  
And surely considering the case as it aught to be, his Majesty had no cause (〈◊〉 r●…spect of any thing that is said) to judge otherwise thereof, for as much as before the said confederacy, I had sufficiently declared that my opinion was, that the Inquisition and the rigour of the Injunctions could not be put in execution, wi●…hout trouble and inconue●…ēce, & thereupon made sure 
e It appeareth by letters sent to the king, the. 14. of june. 1566.  to be discharged of ●…ine offices & government, whereby his majesty was sufficiently certified, that I took not any like confederacy to be a rebellion, and my keeping still of mine offices and government confirmed sufficiently (at leastwise by secrecy) that I continued in the same opinion and in the things that depend thereupon.  
And therefore there is no likelihood why 
The words of the Summons or Citation.  they should go about to new christian us by the names of head author, favourer, furtherer, and harbrower of rebeiss sith it appeareth not that we have received, favoured, proo●…ded for, or authorised any men as rebels. Nother can it be found that we have taken any of the confederates, or any other such like into our peculiar protection and safe-keeping: & yet not withstanding they go about to accuse me thereof also, whereby men may perceive what just dealing is used now a days in the low countries, seeing that for ca●…ses so apparently without all ground or likelihood of truth, they have not only seized upon my goods & possessions, but also partly confiscated them and put them to sale, extending execution upon them against all order of right. Whereby they show evidently that they be fully minded to practise all manner of violence, & in effect to minister extreme wrong in stead of full right, under the cloak and covert of justice, without regard of any manner of justification or defence.  
To the which effect they accuse us also for that some of the confederates had entered into arms, in divers places: not considering that we be not bound to answer for other men's doings, nor aught to be charged though some of the confederates perchance become rebels afterward, for as much as they were none such nor so taken to be at the ●…yme that they haunted and frequented our houses, and that whatsoever was done in that behalf, was done not only with out our advice, but also to our unutterable grief, and far of from us, for at that time I was in Holland, where and not in any other place, I must needs have levied men of war, if I had been minded to usurp authority against his Majesty, because the towns and fortresses there were at my commandment.  
But mine intent hath been nothing else, but to pacify the said countries and the Provinces of Zealand and Utreight being all under my government, and to keep them in obedience to the king's Majesty, according to my Commission and the Lady Regentes express commandment given unto me. So that, I have endeavoured to the uttermost of my power, to acquit myself well and faithfully of that charge, as the Presidents, Counsellors, States, Officers, & Magistrates of the Cities of the same Countries can well witness: and they are able to say whither I did ever minister any speech unto them, otherwise than to encourage them in their obedience loyalty, and servis towards his Majesty, like as I have done in all other places where I had any office or authority.  
Which thing appeareth openly by this, that notwithstanding all these broils, I have by God's grace used such forecast, as no place, town, or fortress of our government hath been destroyed, sacked, or turned away from their due obedience to the kings Majesty or the Regent.  
Out of the same forge cometh this forgery also, which is put into the Citation of the County of Hoochestraten, wrongfully slandered to have been a furtherer of our ambitious practices: name lie that we should have held many suspicious communications and privy packings at Hoochestraten, and that at Deuremond we should have determined with the foresaid County of Egmond, and with the County of Horn, and with the said County of Hoochestraten, to enter into arms against his Majesty, and to keep him from coming into the low country, by force. For I report me to the Lords that were at Hoochestraten when I was there, whither there were any other talk than of making good cheer, and of visiting one an other, and of feasting certain strange Lords as friends & allies meeting together: so as it can never be avowed that any thing was concluded there, that was worthy to be suspected, or any disloyalty practised against his Majesty.  
Also it shall never be found true, that we practised either at Deuremond, or any where else, to stop his majesties coming by force, or otherwise. For although we were advertised that all our doings were misconstrued to his Majesty, to turn away the good will that he bore towards us: in so much that there came to our hands the copies of certain letters written by the Lord Frauntes of Alva, his majesties Ambassador in France, to the Lady Regent, 
f It appeareth by his two letters sent in the month of August. 1566.  the contents whereof were, that the three within noted, (which were the County of Egmond, the County of Horn, and We) should be punished in time and place according to their deserts, until the which time he would that men should make good countenance towards us: and that in effect these letters blamed us for all the evils that had happened in the said low Countries, avowing the same thing to have been the principal cause of the foresaid meeting at Deuremond: yet notwithstanding we trusting altogether to our own innocency, 
The interview at Deuremond.  did not forbear to communicate the contents of the said letters to the Lady Regent, & to ask her directly what was meant by them. There were certain other points treated of, which concerned them that were there, & their doings, whereof I take it that the said two Lords being then prisoners, have made sufficient declaration. In respect whereof, and because they pertain not to the present matter, and for that it is to be presumed, that in this case men should hold themselves satisfied (at leastwise on our behalf) for as much as in the writ whereby we be 〈◊〉, there is no mention made of the foresaid two assemblies: I will make no f●…rther discourse thereof.  
Only this I add, that he which had foreseen the outrages and violence used at this time in the low countries, & had done his duty and endeavour to stop them, according to covenants with the Duchy of Braband, and according to his own oath and bond: should peradventure not be thought worthy of blame for any other rebellion: considering that if he had minded any such thing, he could have found no means to do it, than our adversaries ween, were it not that the opinion which we have conceived of the kings goodness, (who notwithstanding doth waste, destroy, an●… spoil the Country so well affectioned to his majesties service, at the only pleasure of the Cardinal of Granuill) had not turned me away from all such thoughts.  
And therefore to come to other points 
The words of the Summons.  of our Summons, and nainely to that which importeth that we should have aided and counseled the Lord of Brederode, (chief of the rebels, as is there pretended) to fortify his city of Uiane, against the kings majesty: I confess, that coming to Uiane certain years before these alterations, and being told by the said Lord of Brederode, that his late Lord and Father had enjoined and commanded him by his last will and testament, to go forward with the fortifying 
The fortifying of the Town of Vianen.  of the said Town, and of his house, lately begun, desiring me to give him mine advice for the fortifying thereof: I confess (say I) that I did so: whereupon it may well be inferred, that I gave the said Lord counsel to perform the last will of his said Lord and father deceased: but not that I aided or counseled any captain of Rebels to fortify the city against the kings majesty. By reason whereof, and for as much as it is no treazon for a man to give his advice upon the fortifying of a place: it appearcth plainly, that those accusations tend but only to the defacing of the truth, and to the oppressing of innocency.  
And that so much the more, because that in the low Countries it hath at all times been lawful for Gentlemen of ability & living, to furnish & fortify their places whereof it hath been seen, that many both of old time and ever since, have been fortified by virtue of the same liberty, not only upon the Frontiers, but also even in the mids & in the very heart of the Country, which fortifying was so much the more lawful for the said Lord Brederode to make, because he held and possessed the said town of Uiane with all right of sovereignty. And although his predecessors had been in controversy at the law upon that point of long time before: yet notwithstanding he had continued still in possession and seizure of the said royalties.  
And if a man look more near into the advice: he shall find that it is against all reason and equity, to ground any crime of treason thereupon, because it was not given upon the principal point, that is to wit, whether the fortification should be made or not, whereof the Lord of Brederode made no doubt nor scruple at all: but only upon the manner and form of the fortification. Which not withstanding could not have been followed, unless the point going afore, were fully concluded and agreed upon, whereto none but the only Lord of Brederode should be bond to answer. And it maketh not to the matter, that the fortification was put in execution after the commotions. For seeing that the advice was given before: respect aught to be had to the same tyme.  
Whereas it is avouched that we should have suffered the said Lord of Brederode to levy men of war in the city of Antwerp in the open fight & knowledge of all men, contrary to the express order then newly taken and proclaimed, & to ship them to the town of Uiaven, with all manner of munitions of war. This shall serve for answer, that although my coming to the city of And werpe was only to keep it in quiet and in obedience to the kings majesty, which thing may appear by the Regent's letters 
g It appeareth by her letters dated the. 12. of july. 1566.  sent both to me and to the Magistrate of the town, yea & even by the confession of the Attorney general contained in the said Summons: yet notwithstanding as soon as I understood of the said levying, and of the place where it was done: I declared it to the magistrate, and to the margrave, who is the chief Officer of the Town, & unto whom it belonged to look to those and such other accidents, and I commanded him (according to the tharge that the Regent had given me by her letter directed to me in that behalf) that he should apprehended and attach the parties that did it. Whereupon the margrave departing from me, and finding the parties at a Table together, which were reported to be the makers of the said Musters: in stead of executing my commandment, sat down with them, and afterward reported to me that he could not found them: by means whereof they had opportunity to get them secretly away.  
It was very true, that long time before 
Artillery given to the Lord of Brederode.  these alterations, I presented the Lord of Brederode with three pieces of great Ordinance, which I caused to be shot new again afterward at Utreight (a Town of the kings majesties) in the open sight of all men, and sent them to the said Lord, howbeit long time before the said mustering, when he was yet in the kings majesties servis, and had the charge of certain Ordinance, under him. So that it is no less against reason to blame us for giving and presenting the said artillery, than to blame them that preferred the said Lord of Brederode to the said Lieutenantship of the Ordinance, specially seeing that the same Lord of Brederode being assured by the Regent (authorized by the kings majesty, as is said afore) that none of the things aforepassed should be laid to his charge, had not any reason to fortify himself, against the king. Nother was there any likelihood of cause why we should refuse the performance and delivery of the said gift, which we had promised him before, and which he known to be ready and appointed afore hand for him, and to be as near Uiane as utreyght.  
Therefore to come to the pith of the said 
The words contained in the Summons.  Summons, the effect whereof was that I should forbidden certain of the kings majesties places and cities, to receive his garrisons, and among other places, in Zealand, whether it is expressly said, that we sent men to take it, thereby to shut the king out, and to stop his majesties passage by sea: I do not think that ever I used any such speech as might minister occasion to devise that accusation, or to 'cause it to be surmised, that if our part had had sufficient proof of it, they should have been driven to have specified the time and place, seeing that all accusers are bound of right to such specification. Yet notwithstanding for as much as Zealand is named among others, I willingly grant, that knowing and having oftentimes informed the Counsel of the importance of that Country, & being advertised that 
All this appeareth by many letters sent in March. an. 1567.  there was a drift in practising against it, I sent the Lord Bouxtel thither, to the end that no men of war should be received there, without mine appointment, according to the ordinary manner & custom, which is, that no such thing may be done in those countries, but by the commandment of the Governor of them. And I confess also that having received advertisement from the Captain of Zeburge which is a fortress in the isle of Walcheren, a part of Zealand aforesaid, which was all under my government) that two hundred soldiers were arrived there, sent from the Regent, to enter into the said Fortress, & that he could not receive them, as well for fear of some mutiny of his own men, which were unpaid, and would not abide that others stronger than themselves should so openly step in among them: as also because of the strey●…nesse of the place, and for scarcity of victuals: I sent him word again, that I thought his reasons very good, & that he should not receive any soldiers there, without further commiss●…on from the Regent, and from us as Governor there. Of the which distresses the Regent being likewise advertised by the Captain, become of the same opinion that I was of: and sending money to pay the soldiers, took order that of the two hundred, no more but fifty should be received, which entered in anon after, by our commandment to the captain by our letters.  
Now when report was made to the Regent how I had commanded the said Lord of Bouxtell to receive no garrison into the isle, not not even though it were sent from her highness: I intended to have excused myself by my letters: howbeit that at that time such order had not been expedient, because that as than I was at Antwerp & her highness at Brussels, who in like caces concerning my government, had not been wont to do any thing without making of me privy to it afore, and therefore I assured myself that she would not sand any garrison into the isle, without making me of counsel therewith, seeing she might do it without let or delay: Whereas on the contrary part, under pretence of the said garrison, the fortress might be surprised, (as hath been seen to have happened divers times unto others) for the which I might afterward have been driven and constrained to answer, by much more apparent reasons than are now made to accuze me withal. In so much that for th●… more assurance of the said fortress and country, I had good reason to forbid the said captain and all others, (yea and that even by special and express commandment) to receive any garrison, because the fortress was sufficiently provided for already, and the want of victuals should be increased by the over increacing of the garrison.  
By reason whereof, and for as much as the other places and Cities of the Country have always offered to spend their bodies and goods in his majesties servis, & have certified him that they needed no garrison, by sending their deputies to the Governess for the same purpose: there was no likelihood at all that I should by that means surprise the said Country, and by that shift shut out the kings Majesty, and cut of his passage by sea, seeing that the very deed itself hath bewrayed and showed the contrary.  
For at such time as certain Barks laden with men whom I had put out of Andwerp by open Proclamation for the better assurance of the rest and quietness of the town, came before the isle: the inhabitants did set themselves at defence, & would not suffer them to take land, so that being fain to take ship and return back again, they were afterward disco●…fited upon the river about Andwerp, for want of victuals armour & other needful things, notwithstanding that they had caused it to be bruited that they would go to the aid of the Lord of Br●…rode. Which thing caused great uproar and hurlyburly in the Town, where both the Lord of Hoochestrate & I, were often in danger of our lives, (by reason of the Magistrates cowardliness in that he dared not show himself, which gave great occasion of the uproar, to the breach of the peace there established) because it was thought that we letted the succours that some intended to have ministered unto them, (together with the outrages that lewd folks attempted to practise,) howbeit that in the end through God's goodness we appeazed all without any bloodshed. Which dealing of ours argueth us to have been far of from sending those men into Zealand to surprise the Country, in as much as all our doings tended to the contrary. For had that been our purpose, we should not have commanded the captain and the men of that Country to receive no men of war, but contrariwise to have received them and taken them in: and it appeared so much the more, in that we offered the men of Andwerp, to go out of the Town and to discomfit the assembly ourselves, with such company as was there which thing was misliked of for fear of commotion, which discovered itself after the said discomfiture as hath been said afore.  
Now then seeing there was no looking for his majesties coming by sea: there was not any likelihood that by the taking of Zealand we meant to stop his passage and to shut him out of it, which thing (considering how the towns and fortresses were at his majesties devotion) it was not possible for us to do by sending men without head, without captain, without authority, without express commandment from us, & which could not be received there because of our order taken to the contrary: but in that case we should have been there personally in the Country, whereby I should have given some cause for men to think, that folk would every where have stooped to me as to their governor, and have yielded me their accustomed obedience, as they had done in all other Cities and holds of our government: for that had been a more apparent and sure means, than to sand thither a sort of rascal fellows, unarmed ungoverned, and unguided (for whom we should at leastwise have provided in a case, being so well able to do it by means of the town of Andwerp as every man knows) and which were afterward dispatched in manner without any resistance or defence, in somuch that no man having any experience of the wars, would have trusted to them in an exploit of importance, and much less I, who had far better means to assure me of the Country, if I had minded it, as I did not. And therefore I marvel that men of skill and wisdom will use such allegations, whereof they not only nother have nor ever shalhave any proof, but also which have not in them any show of likelihood.  
Wherefore to come to the point of the 
The accusation concerning And●…erpe.  said Summons, which avoucheth that being in Antwerp to appease the trubbles and uproars of the people, we suffered and granted the exercise of all sects to go at liberty in the town indifferently: it is to be considered that before I took my charge upon me, I declared op●…nly in full Counsel of the states, that it lay not in me nor was mine intent to take upon me to suppress the preaching (which was then ched with the exercise of the Religion as a necessary appurtnaunce of the same) which charge (as I took it) I have performed with unspeakable travel, thought and care, by the advice of the men of law of the city, & of the faculties of the merchants, all the which confessed 
h It appeareth by their own report made the 4. of Sept. 1566.  that by my means and order they accounted themselves assured of the quietness of the Town, thanking us for it with all their hearts.  
Which thing falls out in effect to be confirmed approved and confessed by the Regent also, who having co●…itted the keeping of the city in quietness, to the County of Hoochestraten, in our absence, while we were pacifying the Countries of Holland Zealand and Utreyght, enjoined and appointed him expressly 
i It appeareth by her letters of the. 4. 5. and 8. of Octob. 1566.  to follow the steps that I had go before him. Which thing nevertheless they do now go about to deface, changing the things that were openly allowed, into the crime of high treason, against all likelihood of truth. For I granted not any Religion one or other in the town, but only suffered & bore with such as had begun to preach openly before my coming thither, according to my declaration heretofore blamed. For although the Regent showed sufficiently that she held with all Religions which agreed not with the Romish Religion, & esteemed of them all alike, as namely with the Anabaptistes, against whom I was desirous to have ●…ade public defence if her highness had liked it: yet did I put all such to silence, as did put themselves forth to begin any preachings after my coming thither.  
Moreover the preachings that were made without the town, were not received into the town by us: but when I was called to the Court, without having obtained that some other body might be substituted in my stead to look to the quietness of the town, or that I might sand a Lieutenant thither, (notwithstanding that I did expressy require it): in the mean while some fallen to pulling down, destroying, and breaking a sunder of images every where, & they that preached erst without the town, began to get them Churches, yea even by authority of the magistrate. And (after the composition made between the Regent authorised by the king, and the contederates) 
k It appee●…eth by the agreement made the 23 of August. 1566.  when as in the end they were contented to have left up their Churches again, and to have continued their preachings in their accustomed places without the town according to the composition: the Magistrate thought it 
l It appeareth by their own report made the 24. of August. 1566.  more expedient for many considerations, to grant and assign them places within the Town. By means whereof, when the parties were once agreed, I could do no less by virtue of my Commission, but follow the composition.  
For in as much as I was sent to keep the town in quiet, and in loyalty to the king: it was our duty to frame ourselves to that which we saw they had settled in unity and quiet, specially considering the weyghtinesse of the reasons that had moved the townsmen to consent to the things aforesaid, (whereof I did then advertise as well the king as the Regent,) 
m It appeareth by their letters sent in Septemb. 1566.  besides that it was not possible to keep the peace without suffering of the said preachings and the exercising of the Religion out of hand, the necessity of which exercise offered itself well-near hourly by reason of the multitudes that followed the Sermons, which were sayne to be suffered every where, in somuch that they were used openly in Churches, which was the cause that the Magistrate thought it good & needful to suffer, not only the exercise, but also the erection of Churches. And that so much the rather, byeause winter was at hand, by reason whereof, otherwise an other second invasion was to be feared, wherein the other churches were like to have been taken: and therefore the Magistrate was not only willing but also desirous to further the said Churches: whereunto because we saw that all others had no less good will than he: we thought it stood not in any wise with our duty, to hinder the thing that might assure us of the execution of our charge.  
The same may also ser●…e us for answer, in respect of their consistories, in as much as both before our coming, yea and even before there was any public preaching, the Protestant's kept their Consistories, (for in deed they had their consistories every where even in all rhymes) & also because that although we never consented unto them, yet we never see any likelihood of trouble to ensue by means of them. It is very true, that to let the assembling of the common people upon every occasion, I affirmed and thought good, that some should be appointed to deal in the name of all the rest, because I see no way else to perform my charge, and to mainte●…e and preserve the peace, and to avoid all confusion and disorder.  
Again, I could not perceive that any inconvenience or danger should follow of their building of Churches (as some surmised,) seeing that a Church could 'cause no more evil than a house or any other place? and that for as much as I was sent to keep the city in peace and tranquillity, it behoved me for the avoiding of all inconveniences, rather to disappoint the occasions and purposing of attaining thereunto, than to stir up & provoke the parties by impeaching the erection of a Church, or by any such other mean, a●…d so to give occasion of other troubles, which it should have been impossible to have overruled afterward, without doy●…g directly against our Commission, and without setting of all things in a broil.  
Also this may serve partly for a solution to the last part of the foresaid Suminons, which containeth that I should suffer the levying, taxing, and gathering of money to be employed afterward upon the retaining of soldiers and men of war. For I know of none other levyings, taxations, and gatherings, than only such as were made afore my coming, for the relief of the poor, and the maintenance of the Ministers, and af●…erwarde for the building of the Churches. And it shall never be found that any collection was made to my benefit, or employed upon the levying of soldiers, or upon the entertainment of men on mine own behalf, by reason whereof I should have apparent occasion to suffer the said taxations and collections.  
Moreover, my refuzing of the fifty thousand Florins that were offered me from the accountantes by the States of Holland, for the good ser●…is that I had done to the king and the Country during the troubles, by appeasing the uproars there, doth (as I think) sufficiently show, that it was not mine intent to suffer any such collections, taxations and levyings, which it was not otherwise possible to let in Cities of traffic, as in Antwerp, where there was in manner nothing else but gathering of money for divers purposes.  
For as much therefore as I have most evidently (as I hope) showed that no evil or inordinate affection of mine, upon any ambitious desire to usurp above the authority of the king, (whereof all our countenances, sayings, and doings have been clear, yea and clean contrary to it) hath been the cause of any trouble, as whereby we could not have hoped for any benefit, so that I was not the cause of any innovation, that might set the people in any broil or unquietness: but that on the contrary part, the said Cardinal of Granuill, was the cause of all the said innovations and of all the misliking that was engendered afterward between the king and the people, by his usurping of extraordinary authority above all the Counsels, yea and even above the Regent, in hope to maintain, augment, and increase the same his authority by instituting of new Bishops, by confirming of the Inquisition, and by renewing of the Injunctions, to satisfi●… his own ambition and covetousness, which carried him away so headlong at other times also, that he did set dissension and mi●…iking between great Potentates, yea and even between the late right high and happy Princes. Charles the Emperor, and his brother Ferdinand and his sons: I think that such as are of judgement, and have experience in matters, will not stick either to acquit me of the mischiefs and inconveniences that have happened in the said countries, and of the alteration of the appara●… felicity thereof, into extreme bon●…age, penury, and wretchedness: or to charge the said Cardinal with them, whom men go about to set up again in authority, by the overthrow and destruction of the country, in recompense not of any good servis of his, (for the which, had he done never so many and so great good turns, he and his had sufficiently cut out their own shares already, without leaving any part to the discretion of the king's majesty) but of the mischiefs & inconveniences abovesaid, and to give him opportunity to work more: whereas all our sevices done to the great damage and hindrance both of us and of our ancestors, of whom some have died in his servis, and even at the fe●…te of his Imperial majesty, are forgotten, and we spoiled, not only of our goods, by trifling, false, and surmised causes, reasons, and allegations, and by such kind of proceed as are utterly against all right, law, and custom, (as hath been showed heretofore, and by 
n It appeaeth by the lisproofe & ●…uoydance ●…ent to the ●…ttorney ●…enerall, & ●…o the Duke ●…f Alva, the 〈◊〉 of March ●…568.  an other writing of ours:) but also of our honour and our child, which are things dearer to us than our life: all which is to the prejudice, not only of us, but also of the kings majesty, of whose covenants, bonds, oaths, and promises there is no regard at all had, which is so unorderly, unreasonable, and spiteful a kind of dealing, as it can not be avoided, but that it must one day breed some inconvenience, which I beseech God, that the kings majesty being enlightened with his divine brightness and light, may turn away and prevent, and rightly take intelligence of the doings of his good servants and faithful subjects, which are now wrongfully selaundered, persecuted, and afflicted: so as the world may know that the things which have passed, proceeded not of his majesties own nature, but of the misreportes, tales, and slanders of such as have disguised the truth, and concealed it from him, even to this ho●…re.  

¶ The Summons or Citation sent out against the Prince of Orendge.  

Novemb. 1  PHilip by the grace of God, king of Castille, Lions, Arragon, and Navarre▪ etc. To our chief Hussher or Sergeant at Arms, upon this required, Greeting. We are informed by our well-beloved and faithful Counsellor and Attorney general, that the Lord William of Nassaw Prince of Orendge, having received both of our late Lord and Father the right noble Emperor Charles the fift, (to whom God grant rest) and also of us since our coming to our state, many honours and promotions, as our choozing of him to be a brother of our own Order, our naming and admitting of him to be of our counsel of estate, and our preferring of him to divers goodly Rooms, Charges, & Offices: as namely to the government of Burgundy, Holland, Zealand, and Utreight, together with the Lieutenantship of our Ordinance, besides a number of other notable rewards, whereby he might see the great trust and estimation that I always had of him, in respect whereof he should do the more amiss, in behaving himself otherwise than becomes a good subject. Yet notwithstanding, having sinal regard of his own honour, and to the oaths of faithfulness and loyalty, which he had given to us as to his sovereign Lord, and in respect of the said Order, and of the said Rooms and Offices, hath made himself the head author, furtherer, favourer, and harbrower of Rebels, Conspirators, Coniurators, mutineers, privy practisers, and disturbers of the common welfare and quietness. For as it were immediately after our departure out of that Country, towards our Realm of Spain, he and certain others practised to take upon them & to usurp the whole ordering and governing of our countries thereawayes. And for the accomplishment thereof, he wrought and conveyed many secret and pernicious practices, wherein he overshot himself ●…o far, as to determine to enter into arms against us, and to exclude us out of those countries, which thing he hath not failed to do so far as he was able, by using all kind of curti●…ie ●…yly towards our good subjects, to withdraw them from the lovyngnesse and loyalty which they have always showed to us and our predecessors. Yea, and which is so much the more detestable and horrible, under the cloak and pretence of Religion, and through false persuasion, that our intent s●…ould be (which was never so) to bring the Spanish Inquisition into those our Countries, in so much that by his like inductions and impressions, many of our subjects have risen up and rebelled against us, and specially the said prince hath seduced, corrupted, and stirred up a great part of the noble men, & gentlemen, so as they have made leagues, conspiracies, & conjurations, & sworn to defend & strengthen themselves thereby against us and against our ordinances which have been always kept and observed in those countries. And for the same purpose he hath made assemblies in his own houses, as well at Breda, as in this our city of Brussels, yea and afterward received the Rebels into his protection and safeguard, with promise of his assistance. Whereupon they have put themselves in Arms against us in divers places of the country. Also the said Prince hath counseled and aided the Lord of Brederode chief captain of the Rebels, to fortify his town of Uiane against us, and suffered him to levy men of war in our City of Andwerp in the open sight and knowledge of all men, contrary to the orders then newly taken and proclaimed, and to ship them to the said town of Uiane with all manner of warlike munitions, moreover furnishing the said Lord of Brederode with certain pieces of artillery, besides that he forbade certain towns & places to receive any garrisons from us, & among others, our country of Zealand, unto the which he sent men of purpose to surprise it, & by that means to shut us out, & to stop our passage by sea. Furthermore where as the said Prince was sent to our City of. Andwerp to pacify the trubbles and commotions of the people: he of his own private authority and besides his commission, hath permitted and granted the exercise of all sects indifferently in the City, and given the sectaries leave to erect many Temples and Consistories, according whereunto they were erected in deed, whereof have insewed the inconveniences & dangers which every man knows of. Also he hath suffered levyings, taxations, and collections of money to be made, which afterward were employed about the payment and waging of men of war. Many other things hath he done during his abode there, which our Attorney shall declare more at large, & make apparent in due time & place, if need be. All which things tend to his foresaid drift, that by that means he might usurp upon our subjects, & take upon him the authority that belongeth alonely unto us, which is apparently high trazon not to be born with nor to be winked at, but worthy of punishment and correction to the example of others, if it be as our said Attorney saith, who requireth that it may please us to grant him convenient provision according to the crime, with clauze of authority against the said prince of Orendge. Therefore be it known to you, that we having considered the things aforesaid, do command and authorize you by these presents, that at the request of our said counselor & Attorney general, you put forth yourself, and (with such aid and assistance as you shall think meet,) attach and apprehend by the body the said Prince of Orendge wheresoever you shall find him in our said Countries here, and him lead and convey under good & sure guard, to the prisons of our Court in our said City of Brussels, there to appear before our right dear and trusty Cousin, Knight of our order Governor & captain general for us of our said Countries the Duke of Alva, Marquis of Coria etc. appointed purpozely by us for the same matter, & to receive punishment and correction for his said crimes and conspiracies, according to the desert of them, as shallbe found meet by reason and equity in that case. And that if you cannot take or apprehended him, you summon him and cite him by public proclamation and cry, under pain of perpetual banishment and forfeiture of his goods, to appear personally within 〈◊〉. fifteens then next insewing (whereof you shall assign him the first fifteen for the first day, the second fifteen for the second day, and the third for the last & peremptory day of law without looking for any more) before our said Cousin the Duke of Alva, in our said Town of Brussels, or in such other place as he shall then be within our low Countries, to answer to such points and articles as our said Attorney general shall take and choose against him, concerning the foresaid matters and others, that by keeping of the day he may set them down and debate them more at large according to his Commission, and proceed further therein, and see what is to be done according to reason. And you shall signify to the said Prince, that if he come not at the first, second, or third and last fifteen days: justice shall proceed against him in his absence, as is convenient in such caces. And whatsoever you shall have done in that behalf, we will have you to certify our said Cousin the Duke of Alva thereof sufficiently at the said day: to whom we give commission and special charge for the causes afore said, that upon the hearing of the parties, he do and minister, good, short, rightful, and reasonable justice, as becometh in such caces. And if the Prince of Orendge be stubborn and make default: we will that he proceed to the pronouncing of the said banishment, & to the proclaiming of the said forfeiture, and to the executing of all such other things as he shall see meet to be done, by right and reason in that case. And so to do, we give you full power and authority and special commission. Charging and commanding all our justices Officers and subjects to obey you in doing hereof, and to attend diligently upon you, and to give you counsel aid and comfort, and prizonroome also if need be & that you require it. For so is our pleasure. And because the said Prince of Orendge (as we here say) hath got himself away out of our countveys: our will is in that ●…ace, that the summons & citation which you shall make by Proclamation and open cry within the bars of our Court at Brussels, & your setting up of the Copies of this our presents together with your said doings, and your casting of them in at the outermost part of the Prince of Orendges houses within our countries, & your sticking up of like Copies upon the doors and jawmes of the chief church there, to the intent he may not be able to pretend ignorance, shallbe of as good force, value, & power, as if it had been done to the said Prince of Orendgis own person, & for such have we authorised & do authorize the said Summons and Citation by these presents. But for as much as other men have commission to deal with the taking of the Inventory of the said Princes goods, meddle not you with them. Given in our said City of Brussels, the nineteeen. day of january, the year of grace 1567.: and the year of our reign, over Spain, Sicily, etc. the xiii: and over Naples, the xv. It was subscribed thus: By the king. And under written thus, Mesdach. And sealed with a Seal of read wax upon a half label.   

¶ A Copy of the Sergeant at Arms doings. 
No. 1.   
BY virtue of the letters patentes of personal Summons whereof the Copy is set word for word here before, I Francis Knibber ordinary Sergeant at arms to the privy & the great Counsels, have this present xxiv. day of january the year 1567. at the request and instance of the kings majesties Counsellor and Attorney general the obteiner of them, came into the Lists of the Court at Brussels at eleven of the clock in the forenoon, where having caused the Trump●…s to be sounded I have with loud voice and open cry read the said letters patents, and by the virtue of the same, summoned and cited William of Nassawe Prince of Orendge on the kings majesties behalf, to come and appear personally, from fifteen days to fifteen days in. times, whereof the first fifteen shallbe the ix. day of February, the second fifteen shallbe the twenty-five. of the same month, and the third and last fifteen which is the peremptory day of law without looking for any more, shallbe the eleventh day of March following. And this to be done before the high and mighty Duke of Al●…a, (Marquis of Coria etc. Knight of the order, and Governor and captain general for the kings Majesty in his low countries) in the said City of Brussels, or in any such other place as my Lord the said Duke shall then be: upon pain of perpetual banishment and forfeiture of all goods belonging to the said Prince of Orendge: there to answer to such points and Articles as the said Attorney general shall list to take & choose against him, and moreover, as is rehearsed more at large in the said letters patents. Done under my sign manuel the day, month, and year above written. Underneath was written thus: Conferred and found to agreed, by me. And it was signed thus. Knibber.   

¶ An abstract of the last Letters & writings sent by the king to the Lady 
No. 2.  Regent, together with the last dispatch concerning the case of Religion.  
FIrst as touching the Injunctions and decrees as well old as new which concern the case of Religion, his majesty understanding in what state Religion stood in those quarters, thought it not expedient to make any change or alteration of them, but that as well the Injunctions of the late emperors Majesty, as his own majesties Injunctions should be put in execution: for he see that the cause of all the mischief that had happened, & the cause of the increacing & spreading of it so far, had been the negligence, cowardliness, and dissimulation of the judges. And therefore if there were any of them that either dared not or would not execute their office for fear of sum hurlyburly: they should advertise his Majesty, that he might provide others of more courage and better zeal towards the execution of things, whereof there aught to be no want in that Country where there is such store of Catholics, and so many desi●…ous to do God & his Majesty servis: by the doing whereof & the executing of the Injunctions, there was good hope that the hurt which was done there, would better and sooner be remedied, than by any other way.  
Secondly, as touching the Inquisitors of the faith, his Majesty charges her highness to bear such an even hand, as they might be favoured in the execution of their Commission, as the thing that was expedient for the benefit and upholding of the Religion: for it was his majesties mind that the Inquisition should be executed by the Inquisitors as it had been thitherto, and as belonged to them by the laws of God and man: affirming that it was no new thing, for as much as it had been used continewally, as well in the time of the late Emperor, as in his own time, and the inconveniences that were to be feared were much apparanter, nearer, and greater, where the Inquisitors were not suffered to provide for things according to their office, nor aided in their doings. And for 〈◊〉 as her highness known what that meant, his Majesty charged her to do what she could in that behalf, (for it was very requisite that she should so do) and not to consent that any other thing should be treated of in that behalf, because her highness known how near it touched his heart, and what pleasure and contentation it would be unto him.  
Thirdly, his Majesty took order with her highness, that sith the holy Council of Trent was already published, so as there remained now no more to do, but the putting thereof in execution, which was a thing that belonged to the Bishops: her highness should give them all the furtherance and help that she possibly could, that it might take effect as it aught to do. Also he would that the Decr●…es of the Council of Trent that concerned the reformation of the lives and manners of the Clergy, should be put in execution: charging as well her highness, as all his Officers, to favour and further them by all requisite means: and that if need should require any further provision to be made on his majesties behalf, she should 'cause it to be dispatched out of hand, that even where the men of the Church would not obey the reformation that was to be made by the bishops, there they might be framed and made conformable by the Decrees of the said Council of Trent.  
And finally he affirmed that the things which his majesty had written to her highness, as hath been said heretofore, concerned the prosperity of Religion, and of the countries there, which would be nothing worth, without that Order, for that was the only way to keep them in justice, peace, and tranquillity. And seeing that her highness knew what commodity it brought: he desired her eftsoons to follow that way whereby the foresaid things might take effect, for it was the thing whereby his majesty should receive most contentment, as well at the hands of her highness, as of the Lords that were about her: to whom he would have her to give the same charge, to the end they should employ themselves thereunto, as his majesty hopeth that they will, without fail, because they be sure that he will like well of it, besides that they shall therein do the duty of such personages as they be, and accordingly as they be bond to do in respect of their servis towards God and his majesty, & in respect both of the benefit of the whole Country there, and of their own peculiar welfare.   

¶ Margaret by the grace of God, Duchess of Parma and Pleasance. etc. 
No. 2.  Regent and Governess. etc.  
RIght dear and well-beloved, although that even from the first beginning of the reign of my Lord the king, over these countries, as well by the reviving and publishing of the Injunctions and Decrees concerning Religion, made by my late Lord of noble memory the Emperor Charles (whom God hath received into his glory) and now ratified and confirmed by the kings majesty, as by the things that he hath written unto you since, specially from his last departure out of these countries into his realms of Spain, you might always well perceive his good zeal and most holy affection in maintaining our 〈◊〉 true faith and Catholic Religion, and for the rooting out of all s●…ctes and heresies in these countries here: yet notwithstanding for as much as it hath pleazed his majesty for certain occasions, to revive his most holy intent by his late letters: we by express commandment from him, have thought it good to impart unto you what he hath written unto us, the effect whereof is this: that his majesty coveting nothing more than the maintenance of the said Religion, and of his good subjects hereawayes in good quietness, peace, unity, and concord: and to preserve them from the inconveniences that have been seen to happen in many parts of Christendom through the change of the said Religion: purpozeth and intends that the Injunctions and ordinances made as well by the late Emperor's Majesty, as also by himself, shallbe thoroughly kept and observed, and likewise that men shall most straightly keep the Decrees of the holy Council of Trent, and the provincial Councils, specially in respect of the reformation of the Clergy, without gaynsaying of any thing, to the end that heresies may be punished, and manners also corrected, and men may yield all favour and assistance to the Inquisitors of the faith in the executing of their office, and that the Inquisition may be put in ure as it hath been hitherto, and as it aught to be by the law of God and man, which thing his Majesty commandeth expressly by his said letters. Wherefore according to this his majesties writing again, to the intent to obey the same in a thing so holy & so worthy to be favoured, I could not forbear to writ thus much 〈◊〉 you, praying and beseeching you, and on his majesties behalf expressly commanding you to rule & behave yourselves herein according to his appointment, without withstanding of it in any point or article, yea and to give intelligence thereof to the Officers & ●…en of Law of the chief towns of the country & Duchy of Braband, that they also may rule themselves according hereunto, without dissembling or winking at things, under the penalties contained in the said Injunctions. And that you may the better intent unto it, you shall appoy●… and ordain a Counsellor of your College, (who notwithstanding may be changed at every half year, to the intent that no one man be overburdened continually) to do nothing else but to have an eye to the Country of Braband, for the keeping of the Decrees of the said most holy Council, and to ad●…ertize you from time to time of all occurrents▪ that you may provide for them according to his majesties meaning. And to the intent we may continually know the state of religion, in the points above mentioned: we desire and command you, as before, to writ unto us particularly of the success of things from three months to three months, & to repair to us (if there happen any hard point) or to such as are of his majesties privy counsel, that report thereof may be made unto us, for the which purpose we likewise will appoint some Counsellor to take peculiar charge thereof, and to be answerable to you, or to him whom you shall assign. And to the end that in all the things abovesaid, you may the better perceive his majesties express will: we have caused the points of his letters and other writings that concern this matter, to be annexed to this letter, that you may rule and guide yourselves according to th●… form & tenor of them, without making any default. And thus right dear and well-beloved, our Lord have you in his holy keeping. Written at Brussels the 〈◊〉. day of December. 1565. H. V It was subscribed thus: Margaret. And somewhat lower it was signed thus: Of Ouerloepe. Again upon the back i●… was endorsed thus: To our right de●… and well-beloved the Chancellor and men of the kings Counsel in Brabant.   

¶ A Supplication of the Noble men of the low Country, presented 
No. 3.  to the Lady Regent the Duchess of Parma and Pleasance, the fift of April. 1566. before Easter.  
Madam, it is well enough known, that the people of the low Country have always & yet are still greatly renowned throughout all Christendom for their great faithfulness towards their natural Lords and Princes, wherein the Nobility and Gentlemen have always go foremost, as they that never spared either body or goods, in the maintenance and increasement of their Prince's states. And in the sane manner we his ma●…sties most humble subjects are minded to continued still, from well to better, so as we be ready night and day to do him humble servis both with our bodies & our goods. And for as much as we see in what plight things stand at this present, we have chosen rather to hazard the bringing of some misliking and displeasure upon our own heads, than to conceal such things from your highness, as might hereafter turn to the prejudice of the kings majesty, and therewithal disturb the peace and quietness of the Country. Hoping that the event will show in time, that of all the services which we either have done, or shall do to his majesty hereafter, this is worthy to be taken for one of the noblest, and to best purpose: in respect whereof we be thoroughly persuaded, that your highness can not but take it in good worth. Therefore Madam, although we doubt not but that all that ever his majesty hath decreed both heretofore, and now newly again at this present, concer●…yng the Inquisition, and the straight obserning of the Injunctions in the case of Religion, have some good ground and just title, namely for the continuing of the things which the late Emperor of noble memory Charles, had upon very good meaning determined and established: yet notwithstanding, seeing that the diversity of times bringeth diversity of remedies with them, and the said Injunctions have already given occasion of many griefs and inconveniences now many years since, for all the executing of them with extreme rigour. Surely his majesties last resolution whereby he not only forbiddeth the mitigating of the Injunctions any whit at all, but also commandeth expressly that the Inquisition should proceed, and the Injunctions be executed with all rigour: doth give us sufficient cause of just fear that thereby not only the inconveniences will be greatly augmented: but also there will in the end ensue some general commotion and insurrection, tending to the miserable ruin of the whole Country, according as the manifest tokens of m●…tinie among the people, (which appeareth already everywhere) do show us openly to the eye.  
Wherefore considering the appearance and greatness of the dangers that menace us, we have hoped hitherto, that either the Lords or else the states of the Country would have advertised your highness thereof one time or other, that you might have remedied it by removing the cause and ground of the mischief. But when we saw that they did not put forth themselves to do it, by reason of sum occasions to us unknown, and that in the mean while the mischief increased from day to day, so as it was like to come to a general insurrection and cevolt: we ha●…e thought it our duty to wait no longer time, but rather according to the oath of our faith and allegiance, matched with good meaning and zeal towards his majesty and the country, to put forth ourselves foremost in doing our needful endeavour, & that so much the more frankly, as we have more cause to hope that his Majesty will take our advertisement in very good part, for as much as the matter toucheth us much nearer than any others, as them that lie more open to the inconveniences and calamities that are customably wont to spring of like accidents, because the most part of us have our houses and possessions situa●…e in the open fields, ready for all men to pray upon: and also forasmuch as if we should follow the rigour of the said Injunctions, in such wise as his Majesty commandeth us expressly to proceed, their should not generally be any man among us, not nor in all the countries heeraboutes, of whatsoever calling state or degree he were, which should not roune in danger of loss both of body and goods, & be subject to the slander of him that would be his enemy who to have a share of his goods so forfeited, might accuse him under pretence of the said Injunctions, wherein there was none other refuge left for the defendant, but only if the officer listed to wink at him, at whose courtesy both his life & his goods did wholly stand. In consideration where of, we have the more cause to beseech your highness most humbly, (& so do we in deed by this our Supplication) to vouchsafe to take some order in the case, & (because it is a matter of great importance) to sand a fit and convenient person to the Kings Majesty with all speed possible, to advertise him thereof, & to beseech him most humbly on our behalf, that it may please him to provide remedy in that behalf as well for hereafter as for the present tyme. And that for as much as that cannot be done by suffering the said Injunctions to stand in force, because they be the very wellspring and root from whence all the said inconveniences spring it may please him to give ear to the abolishing of them: which he shall find to be necessary for the turning away of the universal ruin & destruction of all his countries here.  
And to the intent his Majesty may have no cause to think, that we which have none other meaning than to yield him most humble servis, would take upon us to bridle him and to bind him to the stake at our pleasure, as we doubt not but our adversaries will incense him to our disadvantage: it may please him to make other ordinances by the advice and consent of all the States assembled generally together, to provide for the things abovesaid, by sum other means more fit and convenient, and without any evident danger.  
Also we most humbly beseech your highness, that in the mean season while his Majesty may take intelligence of our iust request, and determine thereof according to his good & rightful pleasure, you will provide for the said dangers by a general surceasing, as well of the Inquisition as of all execution of the said Injunctions, until his Majesty have taken other order in the matter.  
And we protest expressly, that (as much as in us lay) we have discharged our dewries by this present advertisement: so that we do now unburden ourselves of it before God & men: declaring plainly, that if any iuconuenience, disorder, sedition, revolt, or shedding of blood ensue thereof hereafter for want of redress in time, we cannot be blamed of the concealing of so apparent a mischief. Wherein we take God, the king, your highness, the Lords of the Counsel, and our own consciences to witness, that our proceeding therein hath been as becometh the kings good & trusty servants, and faithful subjects, without passing the bounds of our duty in any point in respect whereof also, we beseech your highness so much the more instantly, to vouchsafe to give ear to it, before any further harm ensue thereof. So shall you do well.   

¶ The Answer and Replication made to the said Supplication in the Counsel of the States by the Lady Regent, was as followeth.  
Her highness havying considered 
No. 3.  the petitions & demands contained in the said Supplication, is fully determined to sand it to the kings Majesty and to offer it unto him with all kind of dewtifulnesse that she can devise to serve her, to move and incline his Majesty to condescend to their requests afore showed: telling them that there was no cause for them to hope otherwise, than for all things meet and agreeable to his native & accustomed goodness for the furtherance whereof, her highness by the aid & advice of the Rulers of the Provinces, the Knights of the Order, and the Lords of the Counsel, had taken pains to devise and pen a moderation of the said Injunctions in the case of Religion, before the coming of their informations, to be presented to his majesty. Which moderation her highness hoped should be such, as should be able to content every man with reason. And for as much as her authority (as the playntifs themselves might well understand and perceive) stretched not so far as to surcease the Inquisition and Edicts as they required: and again it was not meet to leave the country lawless in the behalf of Religion: her highness hoped that the plaintiffs would hold themselves contented with her sending to the kings Majesty: promising to take such order in the mean while till his answer were returned, that as well the Inquisitors themselves where any were already, as also their officers should in that respect proceed discretely and modestly in their Commissions, so as men should have no cause to complain of them. And her highness trusted that the plaintiffs also would behave themselves in such sort, as they should have no need to deal otherwize: for she hoped to behave herself so well and dewtifully towards the kings Majesty, as he should be contented to discharge all others of the Inquisition where it was, as may be perceived by his exempting of Braband from it at the suit of the chief Cities thereof. And her highness intended to prefer all good means to his Majesty so much the more freely, to the end and effect aforesaid: because she did surely beleue●…, that the plaintiffs had no determinate purpose or intent, to altar any thing of the ancient Religion, which had been observed in those countries, but rather minded to keep and maintain it to the uttermost of their power. Done by her highness at Brussels the xuj. of April. 1565. before Easter, under signed. Margaret.   

¶ The Letters of assurance given 
No. 4.  to the Confederates.  
MArgaret by the grace of God Duchess of Parma and Pleasance, Regent and Governess here in these Countries for my Lord the king to all such as shall see these presents, greeting. Whereas a great number of the Gentlemen of this Country together, did put up a certain Supplication unto us in the month of April last passed, the effect whereof was that it might please the kings Majesty to abrogate and abolish the Inquisition and Edicts, as well old as new, (which they said were overrigorous & therefore could not be put in execution) and in stead of them to make others by the general advise and consent of the states of the said Country, beseeching us to sand the same Supplication to his Majesty, that he might provide for it: whereupon we held many great consultations with the governors of the Countries, the Knights of the Order, the Counsel of estate, & his majesties privy Counsel: after we had preferred the whole unto him, together with our advice therein. For as much as we saw that the said Gentlemen might perchance have some scruple or doubt, that the king would take in ill part their said Supplication together with the confederacy which they had made thereupon among themselves, & all that had insewed thereupon: which misdouting might 'cause some greater mischief in those countries: We thought it good by the advice aforesaid, and upon deliberation as is mentioned afore, to sew to the kings Majesty, that it might please him likewize to give them letters of assurance, that they should not be charged with any thing hereafter, that had been do by the occasion thereof. Whereupon his Majesty hath certified us of his good pleasure and meaning, according whereto we tendering the benefit, rest, and tranquillity of the said Countries, and to maintain the said Gentlemen in such wise as they may the more willingly yield their obedience and servis to his Majesty, accordingly as they be bond as well by nature as by oath, and as they themselves have always offered: we (I say) at their request and information, by the power & authority which we have under his Majesty, as Regent & Governess general of these his Countries, and by the advice of the foresaid Governors, Knights of the Order, and Lords of the Counsel of state being with us, have for their said assurance given them a Charter signed with our hand in manner and form following.  
HEr highness. etc.  
We do you to understand, that all things afore mentioned considered, and by the king's majesties consent and good will, and by the power and commandment which we have from him, we in the name and by the power aforesaid have promised, and by these presents do promise, that nother his Majesty nor we, will blame or charge the said Gentlemen for the foresaid Supplication or the confederacy made thereupon, or for any thing that hath ensued of them unto this present, so their oath and faithfulness which they have given and plighted unto us, as well for them selves as for the confederates, be conformable to the points and articles above specified, and whereunto they have bond themselves. Therefore on the king's majesties behalf, we will and command all Governors, Knights of the Order, Lords of the Counsel of Estate, the Chief, the Precedent, and the Lords of the privy Counsel, and all other his majesties justices and Officers, to whom this case pertaineth, to maintain this present assurance, and to 'cause it to be maintained, in●…iolably & continually, causing, suffering, and permitting the said Suppliants to use and enjoy it fully, quietly, and perpetually, without causing, procuring, or doing, and without suffering to be caused, procured, or done, presently, or in time to come, directly or indirectly, any trouble or impeachment to the contrary, and also without attempting any thing against the said Suppliants, in any manner of wise, for any cause above specified. For so is it the king's majesties pleasure and ours. In witness whereof we have signed these presents with our name, and set thereto our seal. Given in the City of Brussels the. twenty-five. day of August. 1566. Signed upon the folding on the right side of it thus: Margaret. And on the left side of the same folding, was written thus: By the express appointment of her highness. And undersigned: Of Ouerloepe. These letters were sealed with her highness own Seal, in read wax, upon a double Label.   

¶ The copy of a letter written by the king with his own hand, unto the Prince of Orendge, translated out of Spanish into French.  
WIth great good will have I received your letters, one the 〈◊〉. of May, and afterward an other the. 〈◊〉. of june. You might have understood by that which I written to my sister, how small cause you have to think the thing that you written to me in your letter of May, or rather that you aught to think the clean contrary. And surely you should be much overseen, if you should think that I trusted you not in all things, or that if any body had gone about to make me conceive amiss of your dutifulness towards me, I would have been so light of credit, as to believe it, having had so great experience of your loyalty and good servis. Therefore you may forbear your mistrust in that behalf, and refer yourself to the letters which you have written heretofore in that matter, and to your own doings, and not to the things that may have been put into your head, by some that perchance are enemies both to my service, and to your welfare. As touching the leave that you sue for, to give up your Offices: I am sorry that your private affairs are in such state as you speak of: howbeit seeing that the state of those Countries is so tickle as it is, I can not forbear to tell you, that it is no reason that such personages as you be, in whom I trust, and upon whom I rest, should now abandon them, specially sith I am so far of from them: but rather it were more reason that such as are at home in their houses, should come running out at such a time of need and put to their helping hand as they be bond to do, and as you have done at this present in going to And werpe, whereof I like very well, assuring myself that you will do there what soever is most expedient for my servis, and for the peace and tranquillity both of the City and of the Country, and also for the redress of such disorders as are there, according to the trust that I have in you: and so to do I give you express charge and commission, knowing that you will not show yourself otherwise towards me, than you have been of all your life long. And to the end you may see how freely I deal with you, I can not spare to tell you how it is much spoken of here, that your brother is a meddler in the things that are done there, as you be. For as much therefore as I can not but greatly mislike of it, I charge you to look to the redress thereof, that he proc●…ede no further, and that you do it out of hand. And if you think it convenient, to put him from you for certain days, do so. From the wood of Segovia, the first of August. 1566. undersigned, Philip. endorsed: To the prince of Orendge. And sealed with the kings own seal.   

¶ A Letter of the kings Ambassador 
No. 6.  in France, to the Regent.  
Madam, although I written to you at large a fifteen days ago, and also by the Post that came out of Spain, as he passed this way a six & twenty days since: yet notwithstanding for as much●… as yesterday I received advertisements from out of Spain, I purpozed to give your highness intelligence of them incontinently, and to sand you the copies of the two letters that were written unto me, whereby you may see many such points, as I am sure you will very well like of, and also understand the good order which the kings Majesty hath taken, and the great preparation that he maketh daily, as well to withstand the Turks power, if it should adventure to arrive upon those Coasts, & to proffer any attempt, as also to bring all his subjects to the obedience of God and of himself. Also your highness shall understand, how well your manner of dealing is liked of, which you have used since the stir that hath happened in the country where you be: and that the last point concerning intelligences and strong places, is found very good, and to very great purpose above all the rest. In so much that now by that means the kings majesty maketh full account to bring his matters about with small pain ●…nd resistance, contrary to the doubt which he had of it at the beginning: specially for as much as the strangers meddle not over far, and also by reason of the continual wisdom and cunning handling of things, where with your highness hath begun to order the whole matter. For I am well able to assure you, Madam, that his Majesty attributeth the preservation of his low countries unto you, next after God: who of his grace will bring to pass, that this inconvenience which is befallen, shall t●…rne so greatly to his benefit and commodity, as he shall see them brought wholly under his obedience, and to such state, government, and rule, as his predecessors could never attain unto, and which he himself had so long desired & laboured for, together with this occasion which no good servant of his will counsel him to looze, whereby he is in forwardness to subdue the one sort, and to rid his hands of the other, as he himself shall found best, and perceive to be most expedient for the incounteryng of things hereafter, to the benefit of his affairs in the said Countries. And for as much Madam as the point which to my seeming is of greatest importance and of most necessity as now in this case, is to make those vizored servants (whom you note of) more & more careless, and out of mistrust: your highness (by your favour) must not think amiss of me for that I have often warned you, and now again do put you in mind, to dally with them for the present time, and to feed them so far forth, as to hold talk with them oft-times yourself, or to 'cause them to be talked with by people appointed for the nonce, which must feed them with the great opinion and good liking that the king's majesty hath of their doings, and with the good will which he beareth them, yea even so far forth as to assure them that he believeth, & saith, that they have done him so notable servis, as he thinketh himself beholden to them for that his low Countries are still under his obedience, & that but for their presence and wisdom they had either been a prey to strangers, or else been bathed in the blood of their own people. For although madame, such speeches be but 〈◊〉 & feigned in very deed, yet do the time and occasion require, that such artificial talk should be used for the servis of his majesty. And I believe your highness shall see by experience, that they will serve to good purpose for the holding of them in, or at leastwise for to hold the fast, as we have perceived already, not only in them, but also in the two that are go to his majesty, who have been so cunningly and skilfully handled, and have had so good countenance and entertainment given them, that they swear●… by nothing else but by the faith that they own to their master.  
And on the otherside, there is so good order taken, and such fetches practised in their houses at home, that according to the means that your highness counseleth, they can nother do nor say any thing, whereof good intelligence is not given back again. Besides this, it is determined to hold them a good while at the Court, and not to suffer them to departed thence, no more than they have suffered the Lord of Ibermount, who thought he should have retunred out of hand. But I must tell you Madam, that the greatest inconvenience which I know to be in this case at this preset, is that they which are of greatest power and credit about the king, (that is to wit the Duke and the 
* This Duke is the Duke of Alva: and the Prince is the prince Deboly Ruygomes.  Prince) agreed well upon the punishment, but not upon the mean how to punish them. For the one urgeth the kings going thither as much as he can, & the other on the contrary part letteth & hindereth it, & propoundeth other new means. As for me, I have always been of opinion, that in such caces the kings presence would stand in great stead: & that above all things, diligence and speedy dispatch is needful, and would greatly advantage the matter, and that in sudden diseazes it behoveth to use speedy, yea & even violent remedies: which is the opinion, wherein the kings Majesty as I am informed (only by one little soul) doth now devil fully settled and resolved: in so much that the same day that he arrived last at Madrid after his sickness, he swore in the presence of the said Lords, how he known well that in the things which he had to do in his low Countries, his going should be, not only to his own reputation, but also to the servis of God: and therefore that it touched him so near, as he would rather hazard all the rest of his dominions, than fail to punish such Rebellion to the example and open sight of all Christendom. And for the same cause his Majesty determined resolutely in the same place, to departed out of Spain as soon as he possibly might, and to carry with him the Prince his son, & the Queen, (who notwithstanding (as it was thought) might have passed through France,) leaving his sister the Regent of the country and his two nephews the emperors sons with her, howbeit that the Emperor was minded afterward to take home the elder of them: and that the duke should go his way certain days afore to refresh the garrisons of Italy, and to fetch thence the best and ancientest Captains and soldiers, & in their places to put those whom he should carry with him out of Spain: and that anon after, his Majesty shall go into Italy and speak with some of the Princes and potentates of that country, and talk mouth to mouth with the Pope, 
Abouchera.  and afterward with the Emperor (if it may be) to link in together with them in counsel and force: and he hath already desired two regiments of soldiers at the emperors hands. Which there is no doubt but he shall obtain, notwithstanding that he cannot as yet give him reso●…te answer, by reason of the war that he hath with the Turk. This dove, as soon as he hath set convenient order in his affairs, his majesty determineth to tarry in the French County, and from thence to come down into the low countries with such force as shallbe needful, according to the behaviour of his subjects there, & according to the countenance that they shall show, of humbling themselves, or of making resistance, that he may make them to obey him, and God first of all. Furthermore madame, me thinks I should not forget to tell you, how the County Palatine, and the Landgrave of Hessia, and the other Lutheran Princes have sent two ambassadors hither, which bear the name of Doctors, whereof the one is called junius, and the other David. They came hither a month or five weeks ago, under colour to demand certain money, which the said Princes had lent the Hugonots, during the troubles of the Realm, and therewithal to commend the professors of their godly Religion to the French king: but in very deed (as far as I can learn) to make practices with the said Hugonots, and to give new occasions of attempts against the Catholic state of the kings majesties Country. And for as much as I perceived by good ground, and in very truth, that some of the kings and Queen's Counsel, yea even of the greatest and oldest sort, (how Catholic so ever they pretended to be) were minded to serve their own turns by occasion of this Ambassade, by entering into league with those Princes, and so to strengthen themselves in their confederacy and alliance, I was in some unquietness for certain days, how to find means to break that brood. But the Cardinal came to the Town in very good season, who in very deed doth a whole world of good turns here, and would do many ●…o if he were able. I visited him & had long discourse with him about the weightynes of this case, and the great inconveniences that it drew with it to the ruin of the Catholics of this Realm: and I aggravated it in such wise unto him, as I made it seem to tend, not only to the harm of the king my master, but also to the harm of his own Prince. By means whereof I gave him a colour to attach the said junius as a subject born in the low country, so as he went hence the next morning to a house of the Queens called Monceaulx, where the Court lay. And when he came there, he sped him so well, that immediately the king & the Queen dispatched a writ to the Marshal of their house, to put the said Lutheran Ambassadors in prison who were as then in the town, and to seize their letters, remembrances, & Instructions. Which thing had been put in execution, but that during the contention that happened while the Marshal was about to have led them to prison, a certain counselor being them in the town, aduized him to surcease the execution of the writ, until there came a new commandment. Nevertheless, I know that although there was means made afterward to salve that sore: yet the ambassadors thought themselves to have received such a despite, & their Masters such an injury: as I am sure that thereby the practice that was a brewing is so broken of, as it cannot be knit together again. Specially for as much as they perceived themselves to be misused new again, in that in stead of amendss for the said wrong, they were very ill entreated at the Court, when they came to have audience: & afterward mocked for their labour, by means whereof they thought that the king and the Queen and their Counsel had small liking of them: a thing that cannot but turn to the great furtherance of the kings majesties affairs, and bereave them more and more of their friends and alyances. As for the Lady that you wots of, I take her to be one of the deepest dissemblers in the world: & the more I have to deal with her, the more am I confirmed in that opinion which I have often advertised your highness of: namely, that there is no trust, no assuredness, no friendship, no steadfastness in her, I have talked with her many times of the matter that you know of, which concerneth the kings Majesty, and I have told her meetly plainly enough how greatly she is bound thereto, for the relief that she hath received by it in her great need, and I do daily still use all the means that I can devise, to make her to discover matters according to his majesties meaning and yours. But I can get nothing at her hand but words: and I am as near my purpose as I was at the first day nevertheless I am fully determined to urge her in such wise at my next comining to have audience, as she shallbe driven to lay herself open. She sends me often the little black man that I have written of so oftentyines to your highness, who hath been divers times in Spain since the Lord of S. Suppli●… was Ambassador there. But howsoever the said Lady think that by his means she makes me believe what she listeth, and wringeth out many secrets from me. I will nother let her know what I intent, nor draw them from their opinion, but contrariwise pretend to speak freely to them. And by this means I perceive I give them now & then good glikes & to very good effect, and that I suck more out of them than they do out of me. At leastwise I will by Gods help take such order henceforth, as they shall never make their brags that they have couzined a Spaniard. I received this advertisement by a post that went from Madrid with the Lord of S. Supplice, whom the said Lady did sand now o'late to the kings Majesty, and left him as Bayone the first of this month to return into France. One sent me word that he had had such talk with her as was behoful, & such as I gave instructions of, which I am sure will do good: nevertheless he learned not so much news as he looked for, and as their intent was that sent him. The Duke had told him a ●…awe days afore, that he intended to writ to me: but because the post saw him marvelous sad for his sons marriage, at his com●…yng away he dared not speak to him of it. The death of Sultan Solyman is not yet known in Spain. But as soon as tidings comes thither of it, I am sure I shall have adu●…rtizement from thence, whereby I shall perceive, whither that upon these news there follow any alteration of purpose in the points abovesaid: whereof I will not fail to certify your highness out of hand, wh●…. 〈◊〉.   

¶ The Prince's answer to the attorney's Summons or Citation.  
Master Attorney, I have received a Copy of the Summons 
No. 7.  that you have caused to be executed and published against me by open Proclamation and Edict. And for as much as I find myself greatly grieved with the accusations therein contained, as a nobleman of my calling aught to do: I covet nothing so much (which thing I hope also to make apparent) as to answer duly and truly thereunto as becometh me. For it is no part of my meaning, to leave any suspicion in the hearts of the ignorant, that I have not dealt honourably and accordingly as I am bound to the king, or that I have lewdly and vndew●…ully behaved myself in the Commissions, rooms, and offices, which it hath pleazed his Majesty to bestow upon me heretofore, or otherwise. But I hope to show by this discourse & by the laying together of my defences, that the good, long continued, & faithful services, charges, and damages, which I have sustained in them by reason of them, do far surmount my duties and rewards. And therefore I have good cause and reason to desire to enter into this reckoning, no less than he that hopeth and looketh for an amendment of his state, by the closing up and determining of his account. But for as much as the thing that we most desire & chiefeliest intent, is commonly last in execution, if we proceed duly and orderly as we should do: in so much that the Physician or Surgeon goes not about to cure the disease, or to heal the wound, how grievous or dangerous soever it be, till he have first purged the humours, and searched the bottom thereof: neither doth the Mason build a house, without laying of a sure foundation before: I am enforced and compelled by the manner of your Summons, to defer the alleging and setting down of my defence, until your accusations be laid forth before a competent and fit judge, in place unsuspected, where a man may hope that the things which shallbe spoken, shallbe regarded as they aught to be, and that the judge will proceed indifferently to acquitment or condemnation, according as the case shall require and deserve. In the mean while I must comfort myself with the examples (whereof stories are full) of such as in recompense of their maintaining and increasing of the honour, Countries, and dominions of their Princes, kings and sovereign Lords, with the hazard of their own lives, and the expense of their goods, have not only been shamefully cited and cried out upon, but also received bodily punishment, and been made a public example, by being murdered, executed, banished, or driven away, whereas in the mean while, the rewards and recompenses of their services have been given before their faces to them that lest deserved them. Which dealing is so much the less strange in these days, for as much as the innocentest person that is, may not only be brought in suspicion, but also in hatred, & made abhorred of the world, only by causing him to be taken and reputed for an heretic by some suborned person. For be he once brought to that point. he shall not only find himself defeated of all his good doings, services, and deserts: but also being bereft and deprived of all good liking, he shall become suspected and accusable of Rebellion, Commotion, Sedition, and generally of all kinds of crimes and faults that can be comprised under the name of treason.  
And for as much as it is an odious thing, as the world goes now adays, to accuse men of pretenced heresy, to the intent they may punish it without incurring the indignation and turning away of men's hearts, which they would feign hold in bondage: it standeth them in hand to cover it with the cloak of treazon, whereof who soever is accused, shall in vain go about to purge and clear himself, before one to whom he perceiveth himself to be suspected of heresy. For in as much as treazon is not the final cause, for which he is pursued, arrested, apprehended, and accuzed: though he make his innocency appear by never so due proof: yet can he not hope for any acquitment or deliverance, but must be condemned under title and pretence of treazon: or else (be his innocency too too apparent) he must look for ●… perpetual and miserable detaining in law by delay of proceeding: which thing aught to excuse me sufficiently for not appearing before the Duke of 〈◊〉 Governor and captain general of the low countries: Besides that your 〈◊〉 which you have sued out, is for in ●…any reas●…ns utterly without right, and such as I am not bound to obey. For ●…esides that the officer of Arms ●…ath not given any intelligence, warning, or ●…clyng of his doing unto me, who upon advertisement given to my Lady the Duchess of Parma then Regent, did withdraw myself 〈◊〉 into this ●…y County of Nass●…▪ for certain urgent affairs of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉▪ (according also as I certified his 〈◊〉 long ago that I was minded to do) and 〈◊〉 of purpose to flee away, or to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 head, as your Writ containeth▪ the terms, respites, and distances were 〈◊〉 short, as it was unpossible for me to be advertised of the proclaiming of 〈◊〉 in Brussels, & to make my appearance there within the compass of them, and much less in any places further of, ●…ther the Duke of Alva might 〈◊〉 in the mean while. For seeing that every term and day of respite had his ●…ffect: it is well known that respect aught to be had to each of them severally, and not to ●…em all three jointly and continuingly together. And therefore to set ter●…s 〈◊〉 of ●…eene days a ●…eece, for such a 〈◊〉 as is between this and Brussels: is nothing else but to set out E●…es▪ Summons, and Citations that are unpossible to be obeyed. Again, by the hndling up of your said respites, and by your taking of three for one: I find that notwithstanding the great importance of the case, & the state and calling of my person, your meaning is to proceed against me by one only Summons, contrary to all order of justice: specially seeing that in like caces, the proceeding is speedy enough accor●…ing to right, when there is no more done, but the keeping of the accustomed order: which is, that there should be no proceeding to the peremptory day, before there have 〈◊〉 three several 〈◊〉 sued out, with six days distance at the lest between Summons and Summons, and that the judge being ●…ely ●…ed of the places & haunts where the party absent that is to be summoned abideth, do appoint the respites according to the farrenes of that distance that he hath to come. Which thing sith your Summons doth not, it followeth of necessity, that it is of no value, nor any Summons at all. Of like ●…ffect are all your judicial acts unduly and uncompetently done, so much the more, because your pre●…ed Citation and 〈◊〉 can take no place or effect, in as much as they be done against such a one as dwelleth out of the kings territory and jurisdiction, within the bounds of the Empire, and is a member and state of the same: (the privilege and authority whereof is s●…che,) that if any withdraw●… themselves out of it, 〈◊〉 may of right be required to be sent back again, but it is not lawful to call them out of the Empire by any Citation, or by any pre●…sed Summons, Injunction, or Proclamation. Which thing hath been of such estimation in 〈◊〉 past, that chief by reason thereof, the sentence that was given by the ●…rour Henry, against Robert 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sicily was reversed and 〈◊〉▪ the rather because the said king 〈◊〉 stood in doubt of the Emper●… 〈◊〉 accompanied with a puissant ar●…y, as the duke of Alva is at this prese●… wit●… an army of Spaniards, bearing such good will to me as all the world ●…weth. And therefore it aught to 〈◊〉 for the bewraying of the 〈◊〉 of your said Citation and Summons, specially seeing that the Duke is notoriously known to be a more uncompetent judge in respect of me, than the said Emperor was in respect of the king of Sicily: Considering that such as are knights of the Order, can not by the Laws, Ordinances, and Constitutions thereof, be otherwise s●…moned than before the chief of the same Order, and their brethren, not not ●…uen for the worst, heinousest, and shamefullest matters that they can commit. Nay, there can not any man proceed to the apprehending, attaching, and detaining of those knights, unless it be decreed by the advice of six of their brethren at the lest: and in such case they must be put by and by in the custody of their own. College, and of the friendly company of their own Order, and not be rigorously dealt withal, as our Cousins and brethren of the same Order already apprehended, are used: which thing doth also confir●…e the insufficiency of the Writ that you have sued out, and specially of the rigorous clause of bo●…yly attachment put thereinto. For seeing that man is naturally given to 〈◊〉 himself: it is not likely that we will be made to appear among 〈◊〉 men, & before such judges, as we mistrust, and specially to yield our selves into such prizons as are far more strait and rigorous, than we of duty are bond unto, or than of right belongeth unto us. For of right the Prizon should serve but only to keep the prisoner forthcoming, and not to 〈◊〉 him from all company, 〈◊〉, co●…nsel, & advice: without the which it is impossible that any case of importance should be well and duly pleaded and defended: the which nevertheless I understand in very deed to have been used & to be used still towards our said Cousins and brethren of the Order, whom we see also to have been fetched out of the County of Braband, notwithstanding the express Covenants, Laws, and Conditions, whereby the same country is bound to the obedience of the kings majesty. And I see that the lik●… is come to pass in the person of mine own son the County of Bure, without any regard had of his young age, and apparent innocency: which ser●…eth me for a warning, that the Duke of Alva means not to stand to any covenants, bonds, laws, rights, or customs, and therefore that it should be impossible for me to obtain any discharge at his hand, though I made mine innocency to appear never so sufficie●…tly by like allegations.  
Wherefore, & forasmuch as both by right of law, & by force of covenant, brought in at joy full entrance, containing the laws whereby the Duchy of Braband 〈◊〉 obedience, we which have alway●…s had our dwelling place in the ●…ame Duchy, have good ground to withhold and suspend all obedience which we own to the king, until his Majesty being better informed, have amended the things that have been done and attempted contrary to the said joyful entrance & in prejudice thereof: I thought it good to advertise you and to tell you plainly by these presents, that in respect of the reasons before alleged, we take your said Summons and Citation for none and of no value. Expr●…y protesting the like, of all that shallbe done and decreed by virtue and confequence of the same, specially because of the apparent unsufficiency of the Duke of Alva, to whom the Commission of this case is directed in respect of his Governershyp and Capteinship general over the low countries: which protestation our will is to have to serve for our excuze, & consequently also for our refusal in respect of him, and so far forth as is needful beside, because we find in very deed & by experience, that we cannot hope to obtain of him, the right which our case shall deserve, by reason of the causes aforesaid. And we offer to present our selves before the Emperor, the Electors, the Princes, the States, and other th●… Lords of the Empire, or any othe●… meet and unsuspected judges, to have the examining and deciding of our case, according to the desert of it openly and without partiality or affection. Protesting yet once again, that all is nothing, which is or shallbe done, said, ordained, judged, or decreed to our prejudice, by the said Duke of Alva, suspected and refuzed as an incompetent judge as is said afore, or by any that shallbe put in Commission for him and in his stead. And for as much as all this serveth to none other end, but to do you to understand the said declarations, offers, and protestations: that by you and others such regard may be had of them as is meet: I will pray to the Creator to have you Master Attorney in his holy keeping. Written at Dillenbourch the third of March. 1568. Under-signed, William of Nassaw. The superscription of it was, To Master Attorney General.   

¶ An answer sent to the Duke of Alva by the Prince of Orendge, upon the Citation or Summons.  
SIr, for as much as my doings 
No. 7.  may be a sufficient testimony, that from my youth up I have desired nothing more, than to employ myself in the servis, first of the late Emperor of noble memory, and afterward of the king my Master: I have hoped that his majesty (being advertised from me, (like as my Lady of Parma then Regent, was also) that I was come into this my county of Nassaw for certain very urgent affairs of mine) would in respect of my faithfulness, & good will, not have ceased to have showed me so much favour, as to command me wherein soever I could have done him servis, which I offered him continewally by my said letters of advertisement or at leastwise that I should have understood at your hand, that the kings Majesty was minded to have me to leave mine own affairs here, and to return immediately thither, as well as you gave intelligence of his majesties mind to all other Lords, states, and Cities. But as I was still waiting with great longing, for his majesties commandments: I was advertised that process was go out against me, to seize upon my lordship's, Lands, and goods: and (which worse is) by Proclamation under the name of the Attorney general, full of false and untolerable slanders: and afterward by the apprehending of my son, whom I had left at Louane that he might be the better able to serve the king and the common weal hereafter. Whereat I wondered very much, & me thought it was right strange, that they should proceed in such sort against a man of my calling, forgetting so soon the great and noble services, done as well by my predecessors and by myself, and in these last trubbles by name. Wherefore where as I have reasons & allegations well framed to justify my case with all, and to clear & declare mine innocency, & the wrong that is done me in this behalf, which I reserve till fit time & place may serve: I thought it enough at this time to answer the Attorney general with speed, and to lay open and to show to him the insuffi●…iencie of his Summons by other reasons which I had against the same, before the expiring of the over hasty term that is prefixed unto me, to the end that men should not think I felt myself guilty in any thing, or that I ●…eene not to pursue my right, so far forth as I shall find it expedient by reason. And thereof Sir, I thought good to advertise you also, by sending you Copic of the letter that I wrote to master Attorney together with this letter, to the intent there may be no more proceeding or dealing against me or mine through ignorance, furtherforth than may be justified hereafter by order of law, whereto I hope I shall one day have my recours. And to the end that this may not serve to any other effect, I pray God Sir, to give unto you health and whatsoever is for your salvation, and unto me, that my Prince may once truly understand the sincerity of my dealings. From Dillenbourch, this third of March. 1568. The subscription of it was, Your brother of the Order, William of Nassaw. The superscription was, To my Lord the Duke of Aluaze grace.   

¶ The Copy of an other Letter written by the foresaid Francis of Alva Ambassador for the king of Spain in France, to the Duchess of Parma. etc. Regent: besides that which is inserted heretofore in the page. 106. No. 6.  
Madam, the advertisement which your highness hath given me of the affairs where you are, hath confirmed the opinion which I have always had: namely that this stir was never made without the knowledge and supportance of the greatest, and specially of the three 
n He meeneth the Prince of Orendge, the County of Egmond, and the County of Horn.  which make so fair countenance. For as your highness hath considered with great care and discretion: you must also believe that all the mischief springeth of them three. I have not failed to advertise the king's Majesty of all things, and specially of that matter. And I am sure that whereas your highness hath informed his Majesty of them, you shall not need to handle them as they should be, and according to your own information: for they may be well assured, that they shallbe the first whom his Majesty will deal with: not to show them favour, for they be not worthy of it: but to punish and correct them as their rebellion deserveth. Therefore your highness shall not need to give them any evil countenance, or to make any show of misliking, for fear of marring the matter: But you must hold them still in hope that the kings Majesty taketh them for his faithful servants: & that will stand us in great stead. For, by causing them to believe so, you shall overtake them the eassyer. But when the time cometh, you shall talk to them in an other manner of language. And your highness must assure yourself, that if your will be good to make them receive the payment that they have deserved: his Majesty willbe no less willing to do what soever is needful in that behalf.  
Also Madam, to advertise you in what assurance we be of succour in France, according to the instructions that you gave me: I must be fain to tell your highness, that we have promises enough made us, but I fear me they will stand us in no great stead, and in the end all will turn to bore words, because they have not their own wills, nor are able to help us as they promise', by reason that the Hugonotes heerawayes are strong and do make head. I will not fail to do what may be done, and to advertise your highness thereof upon all occasions. But in any wise I beseech you to behave yourself very cunningly towards the three people whom I have named unto you. And so etc.  
From Paris the xxix. of August, 1566.   

¶ Letters of the Prince of Orendgis to the Regent.  
Madam, I have received the letters 
o These are the letters with the kings resolution sent abroad by the Regent, the 18. of Decemb. 1565. No. 2. fo. 77.  which it hath pleased your highness to writ unto me, together with the Counsels letters, concerning my government: whereby I understand the kings majesties intent, consisting in three points, which he commandeth me very expressly to cause to be executed in all places of my government. Now although Madam, that mine advice is not asked in the matter being of so great weight and importance: yet notwithstanding as a faithful servant and subject to his majesty, being moved with a zealous desire to satisfy the duty of my calling and oath, I could not forbear to say mine opinion freely and frankly, choozing rather to adventure the gaining of displeasure at the present for mine advertisements and informations, than to be noted and blamed hereafter as an unfaithful, negligent, and careless Governor, for my wi●…king and silence, to the defamation and desolation of the Country.  
first, as touching the putting of the 
The Council of Trent  Council in execution, although there were some misliking and grudging at it at the beginning: yet notwithstanding, in as much as some qualifications have been added to it afterward, I be●…eue there will be little sticking in that behalf. And as for the reformation of the Clergy, and other Ecclesiastical ordinances: seeing they belong not to my vocation, I refer them to such as have the charge of them, intending to satisfy the kings majesties commandment, as need shall require.  
As touching the second point, which 
The Inquisition.  containeth that the Governors, Counsellors, and other Officers should favour the juquisitours to the uttermost of their power, and maintain them in the authority that belongeth to them by the law of God and man, & which they have enjoyed unto this day.  
It may please your highness to remember, that the complaints, strifes, and quarrels that have been moved through the whole Country here for the stablishing of Bishops, have risen upon nothing else, but for fear lest some form of Inquisition should be brought in under that pretence. So odious and irksome is, not on●…ye the execution, but also the very name of it.  
Besides this, it may please your highness to understand, (for it is clear and manifestly known to the most part of the king's majesties subjects, and specially to all men of any good countenance & calling hereawayes) that both the emperors majesty 
Marry Queen of Hungary.  and also Queen Mary, have oftentimes assured the inhabitants, as well by word as by writing, that the Inquisition should not be brought into the low countries: but that they should be maintained and ruled as they had been of all ancient time before. Yea and even the king's majesty that now is, to the intent to put that imagination out of the people's heads, hath oft-times made the like assurance himself.  
And undoubtedly Madam, the said assurances and promises have kept his majesties subjects and other dwellers here from falling into any alteration, and caused many men of good wealth and countenance to forbear the alienating of their goods, and the seeking of any other places where they might live without fear of any Inquisition. And so consequently they have been a mean to maintain the union, tranquillity, trade of Merchandise, and supply of the most part of the treasures for the maintenance of the wars: whereas else the Country being made bore both of inhabitants, men, and money, had been abandoned as a pray to whosoever had listed to lay hold of it.  
As touching the third point, whereby his majesty willeth and commandeth expressly, 
The Injunctions, Proclamations, Decrees, or Edicts.  that the Injunctions or Edicts made as well by the Emperor, as by himself, should in all points and articles be kept, followed, and executed, with all rigour, and without any qualification or winking at them.  
Madame, (to my seeming) that likewise is a very hard point, because the Injunctions are many and divers, and have been limited, qualified, and restrained now and then heretofore, and not pursued with rigour: in so much that they were not so sharp even in the time of the universal misery, as they be now, nother were our people so much inclined to innovation, as they be now by the instigation and practises of our neighbours.  
Wherefore, to use more extremity presently, and all at one instant to renew the Inquisition more vehemently, and to proceed on to execution with all severity: surely Madam, I can not see how the kings majesty shall win aught else by it, than to put himself to pain, and the Country to trouble, with the loss of his good subjects hearts, by making every man mistrust, that his majesty intends to go an other way to work than he hath always assured them of and pretended, and to hazard the putting of all things into his neighbours hands, as well by unpeopling of the Countr●…y by such as will forsake it, as by reason of the small trust that can be repozed in them that shall remain, & all without any profit or redress of Religion.  
To avoid tediousness, I omit the alleging of many inconveniences in this behalf, because I know that both his majesty and your highness have been advertised of them at large already. Moreover, (I speak it under correction) me thinketh the time is very unfit to stir the brains and humours of the people, which is too much disquieted and troubled already with the present scarcity and dearth of corn. It were much better (in mine opinion) to defer and let all alone, until his majesties coming, who is said to be in preparing himself hitherward. And I would to God he were so steaded, as he might be here with speed, to the intent that by his presence such order might be taken, as should be expedient for the service of God and his majesty, and for the rest and quietness of his Countries and subjects here. For in caces of trouble, things would be remedied more readily by his presence than otherwise.  
Howbeit, if his majesty and your highness be still at one stay, and fully bend to have all the said points followed to the full: for as much as I see clearly and before mine eyes, that it can not be now executed without great hazard of the ruin of the whole Country, (which it may be that his majesty would have regard of, if he were here:) If it be so that your highness will not defer the Inquisition till then, but will needs persist in the present executing thereof: I had liefer that his majesty should put some other in my place, that can better skill of the people's humours, and is better able than I to keep them in peace and quietness: than to incur the shame that may light upon me and mine, if any inconvenience should fall upon the Country, under my government, and during my charge.  
And his majesty and your highness may well assure yourselves, that I say not this because I am loath to follow his commandments, or desirous to live otherwise than as a good Christian: for my former doings can well bear witness thereof, and I hope his majesty hath well perceived by experience, that I have never spared either body or goods to do him service, wherein my desire is to continued still all my life long. Besides this, if the affairs of the Country should go otherwise than well, I would (for my duties sake to his majesty and my native soil) I would (I say) adventure not only all the goods that I have in the world, but also mine own person, my wife, and my children, whom even nature willeth me to preserve and keep. Wherefore I beseech you, let it please your highness to have regard of it according to your tried and accustomed discretion, and to take this mine information in good part, as proceeding from one that speaketh of earnest affection and good will, to do his majesty servis, and to prevent all inconveniences▪ whereof I take God to witness, whom (having commended myself most humbly to the good grace of your highness) I beseech to give you long and good life in health.  
From Brussels, the. xxiv. day of Ianuarye. 1565. according to the Computation of Braband. 
p According to the computation of the Empire, it is. 1566.    

¶ The Regentes answer to the Prince's Letter.  
MY good cousin, I have received your two Letters of the xuj. e. of this present 
No. 8.  month, by the one of which you excuse yourself of your not coming hither as you would have done. And by the other you put me in mind of the declarations which you have made to me at other times, concerning the inconveniences that might rise of the three points which my Lord the king hath commanded, which I remember very well. And since that time (as I am informed) the discontentment and grudging of the people is grown in such wise, as I am done to understand by divers advertizementes coming to me daily from good places, that the said inconveniences are too too apparent, & even at the point to show themselves to open sight. Which thing caused me to think it meet and expedient, to assemble the Governors, (as I have done) to be here upon Monday or Tuesday next at the furthest, that by their help I may consult of such things as shallbe most expedient for the preventing of the said inconveniences, or for the good service of the king, for the peace and tranquillity of his countries, and for the safety of his vassals, subjects and inhabitants. And I know your affection and zeal towards his majesties affairs and in the behalf of the Country to be such, as I assure myself that you will not fail (all other matters set aside and omitted) to be here at the same time: which I pray you heartily good Cousin to do, for to that end doth this letter purposely come unto you. And I pray the Creator to grant you the thing that you would most desire of him. From Brussels the nineteeen. day of March. 1565. 
q Accorling to the ommon rec●…ening, it ●…as. 1566.  It was underwritten. Your good Cousin: and signed, Margaret: and further countersigned, Berty. And the superscription was, To my good Cousin the Prince of Orendge, County of Nassaw, Knight of the Order, & governor of the County of Burgon, and of the Countries of Holland, Zealand, and Vtreyght.   

¶ Extractes of certain points comprised 
No. 9  in the Injunctions, and ordinances set forth in the low Countries in the case of Religion. And first of the general Injunction or Edict made and decreed by the Emperor Charles, the. xxij. of September, the year. 1540 which was made after the pattern of an other as rigorous as that, which came forth in the year. 1531.  
FOr as much as in consideration 
✚  aforesaid, we be desirous to the uttermost of our power, to pluck up, abolish, & root out the said condemned and disallowed sects, errors, and heresies, & to keep our subjects in the fear of God, and in the true obedience of our said holy Catholic faith, & likewise in awe of our mother holy Church: we upon great and substantial deliberation with our Counsel, and by the advice of our right dear & well-beloved sister the Queen Dowager of Hungary and Beam. etc. Regent & Governess of our Countries here, and also by the advice of our chief Counsellors, have of our own will & certain knowledge ordained and decreed, & do ordain and decree for an everlasting Statute and Law, as followeth.  
First, that no person of what state, degree, or calling so●…uer he be, shall have, cell, give, carry, read, preach, teach, maintain, talk of, nor dispute of, either secretly or openly, the doctrines, writings, or books that are made or shallbe made by Martin Luther, joh. Wickliff, john Husse, Marcil of Milan, Oecolampadius, Vlrichus Zuinglius, Philip Melancthon, Francis Lambert, john Pomerane, Otto Brunfelsius, justus jonas, john Puper, and Gorcian, or by any other authors of their sect, or by any other heretics and 〈◊〉: or the errors disallowed by the Church, or the doctrine of their adherentes, favourers, and complices: no nor even the new Testaments Printed by Adrian of Bergues, Christopher of R●…mōd, and john Zell, [nor these Latin books following, videl.] The phrases of holy Scripture, The Interpretation of the Chaldey names, Vadians Abridgement of topography, The Paralippomenon or Chronicles of things worthy of remembrance, The story of the original of the Garmanes, The Commentaries upon the Poetry of Pythagoras, Walcurioze Commentaries upon Aristotle's Physic's, The works of Eobanus Hessus, Griphies Prayers upon the lords Prayer, The Method upon the chief places of Scripture, The Cathechizin of Erasmus Sarcerius, The same man's Scholies upon the Gospels of Matthew Mark & Luke, The same man's Postilles upon all the Sundays Gospels through the whole year, Also of the manner of learning Divinity, Of the framing of a man's life, and of the reformation of manners. Christopher Hegendorphius exhortation, The same man's instruction of Christian youth, with an exposition of the lords Prayer, Philip 〈◊〉 abridgement of Chronicles both in Latin and in Duche, Sebastian Munster's Annotations upon Saint Mathewes Gospel, and the Interludes played not long ago in our City of Gaunt by the nineten places of Rhetoric, upon this question, what is the greatest comfort to a man that is at the point to dye: nor any other books written or printed within these xviij. years last past, without declaring of the author, printer, time, and place nor likewise the new Testament, the Gospels, the Epistles, the Prophecies, or any other books in French or Duche containing Prefaces, Prologes, Appostils, or glozes, savouring of doctrines disallowed, repugnant, or contrary to our holy Catholic faith, or to the Sacraments, or to the commandments of God or of the Church.  
Also that no man shall paint or cause to be painted or portrayed, or hold, have, or keep any Images, portraitures, or pictures, to the reproach or disgracing of the virgin Marie, or of the saints that are canonised by the church: nor also break, deface, or pull down the Images made or hereafter to be made in the honour or remembrance of them: & that if any body have any such books peyntyngs in his hands or keeping, he burn them incontinently.  
Upon pain (in case that any be found to have done against any of the points above declared,) to be executed, that is to say, the men by the sword, and the women 
* That is to wit, by burning of them quick.  by the pit so they do not maintain & defend their errors: but if they stand in those errors and heresies, than they shallbe executed by the fire: and in all caces their goods shallbe confiscate to our behoof.  
And we will and declare, that from the day wherein the said heretics shallbe fallen into their errors, they shallbe unable to dispose of their go●…des: and all alienations, gifts, conveyances, sales, settings over, Testaments, & last bequests by will, made by them after such times, shallbe as nothing and of none effect.  
Furthermore we obtain and decree it for a perpetual statute and law, as afore, that no man shall presume to hold or suffer in his house or else where, any co●…enticles or meetynges, or to talk or dispute of holy Scripture, (specially in matters hard and doubtful) or to read the same holy Scripture to others, or to preach it: unless they be Divines allowed by some famous University, or admitted thereto by the ordinary of the place: under like penalty.  
Also that no man shall Print or cause to be Printed, or otherwise put forth any book, that treateth or maketh mention of the holy Scripture, or that in any wise toucheth our holy faith and the constitutions of the Church: unless it be first overseen by the ordinary of the place, & that he have got our grant & licence to Print it: under like penalty.  
Moreover we ordain & decree, that no man of what state or calling so ever he be, shall presume to lodge, receive, in●…ine, or favour any heretics, or Anabaptistes, & that all such as shall have lodged, received, entertained, or favoured them, knowing them to be such▪ shall come and bewray & accuze them to the officer of the place (if it be a privileged place): or else (if it be not) to the chief officer of the good town next to the place where they devil: under pain of being punished as heretics.  
And because we be desirous to come to the knowledge of the said heresies, errors, and abuses: we enact & decree, that the accuzers & bewrayers of them shall have the one moiety of their goods that are so bewrayed and accuzed before their misusage do appear, & they duly convicted thereof: conditionally that the said goods pass not the sum of one hundred pounds Flemishe of the great: for if they pass that sum, then shall they have but the tenth penny of that which the said goods amount unto above it, the costs and charges in the law first deducted.  
And to the end that our justices & Officers which shall have apprehended the said Heretics or Anabaptistes, may not have occasion to bear with them, their complices and fautors, or to punish them less than they deserve, under pretence that the punishments may seem to great and rigorous, & to have been set but only for the terror of offenders, as we see it cometh oftentimes to pass. We will and command that whosoever violateth this our ordinance, by keeping, printing, selling, distributing, or setting forth any books, writings, or images, that are heretical or offensive, or otherwise against the points above declared, or any of them: shallbe punished and corrected indifferently by the pains afore mentioned. Forbidding all our judges, Officers, and justices, to altar, qualify, or change the same punishments in any manner of wise: and [charging them] only to denounce the said penalties and punishments upon them, as soon as they shall perceive them to have violated any of the said points: under penalty to be deprived of their rooms & offices, & to be denounced unable to bear any Office for ever after, and moreover to be corrected for it at our pleasure. And we command all our Officers to advertise us or our said sister the Queen, when our judges, Headboroughs, Aldermen, or any others having the examination of such offenders, do make nice to follow this our decree, and to denounce the said penalties: that we may proceed against them by the self same punishments.  
Furthermore we decree, that if any man chance to know any place where any heretic or Anabaptist doth secretly lurk: he shallbe bond to bewray it to the officer of that place, upon pain to be taken for a fa●…rer, harbrowgher, and adh●…ent of the heresy wherewith the person so hidden is infected, and to be punished with the same pain that the hidden person should be punished withal, if he were caught.  
And because that heretofore when some Heretics or Anabaptistes being appeached and cited, have got themselves out of the Country, and shrunk a●…de or hide themselves in some secret place▪ there could be no proceeding against them by any other convenient punishment than only by banishment: and that such hearing that their compli●…es & adherentes were dead or executed, so as it was not possible for the officer to prove sufficiently that they were rebaptized or heretics, did upon hope & confidence thereof some forth daily, and make suit to get leave to pu●…ge themselves, or to get some other benefit of law: w●…he thing ministered 〈◊〉 of delay of justice, and made the heretics and Anabaptistes bold to return into our countries, and there to sow abroad their errors & false doctrines, to the great pe●…ill, offence, & prejudice of our said countries & subjects: We minding to provide for it, do forbidden the chief justices of our high Courts, & the Precedents of our provincial Counsels, to give, grant, or cause to be sealed to such as are suspected & appeached for 〈◊〉 or Anabaptistes, and ha●…yng been once cited by order of law, appear not, but suffer themselves to be banished through their own wilfulness,) any protection of law to stand to their purgation, or otherwize to frequent our said countries. And we denounce, that such fugitives & banishend ●…olke shallbe taken for convicted, & that process shall go out against them under the pains aforesaid.  
Besides this, we forbid all men of 
✚  what state or condition so ever they be, (under pain of being taken for favourers of heretics,) to offer unto us or our counsellors, having power to pardon, any Supplication for the said fugitives, banished men, rebaptized, or otherwise defamed, or having been noted of the said disallowed sects, to 〈◊〉 grace for their mis●…sages, errors, and heresies: for we will not that any grace shallbe granted them, upon pain of being disabled for ever, to have or execute any charge or office in our Countries, and moreover to be punished at our pleasure. Likewise also we forbid all Advocates, Proc●…ors, Clerks, Apprentizes, and Solicitors, to indite, writ, or prefer any such Supplications under like pain.  
All which points and articles we 
†  will and command to be kept and observed inviolably for ever, according to their form and tenor. And to the end that every man may have knowledge thereof, we will you to proclaim all these things incontinently and without delay, in the places where Proclamations are wont to be made: and that you proceed and 'cause others to proceed against such as withstand or disobey, with all rigorous execution of the penalties afore declared, and without any favour, dissembling, or winking at them: notwithstanding any replication or appeal, made or to be made, or any Privileges, Ordinances, Statutes Customs, or usages to the contrary: all which, our will and pleasure is to have to take no place in this behalf: but of our own ●…ayne knowledge, authority, and full power, we have disannulled them, and do disannul them by these presents.  
And for the performance of that which 
†  is said, and of the things depending thereupon, we give unto you our justices, Officers, and men of Law, to whom this case belongeth, full power, authority, and special Commission: commanding and charging every man to obey you, and to attend diligently upon you, in the doing thereof: For so is our pleasure.   

¶ Secondly, of the perpetual Decree 
No. 9  and Edict, ordained and set forth the. 29. day of April. 1550. after the making of other rigorous Decrees, in the years. 1544. and. 1546.  
FIrst, that no person of what estate 
† †  or condition soever he be, shall print, writ, copy out, wittingly have under him, receive, bear about, keep, conceal, hold under him, cell, ●…wy, give, distribute, sow abroad, or let fall in Churches, streets, or other places, any books or writings compiled by Martin Luther, john Oecolampadius, Vlrichus Zuinglius, Martin Bucer, john Calvin, or other heretics and authors of their sects, or of other wicked & false sects, disallowed by the holy Church, or of their complices, adherents, and favourers, which are go astray from our holy Catholic faith, more largely specified in a certain Declaration, and 
c In that they forbidden in manner all Bibles & Testaments, saving the Latin once: and therein are contained an infinite number of books, & among other, the books of Melancthon, Carolostadius, Coruine, Sarcer, Lambert, Bullinger, Agrippa, Wick●…e, Husse, Pomerane, jonas, Puppet, Brentius, Spangenberg, 〈◊〉, Epin, Martyr, Urban, Musculus, and Bucer.  Register joined hereunto, newly made at our commandment, by the chancellor and the Students of the university of our City of Louane, dated the xxvi. of March last, which we avow ourselves to have authorised, and do authorize it: willing and commanding that it be followed, maintained, and published with these our present Letters: and also that no other books made or printed, or that shallbe made or printed hereafter, (be suffered) without declaring the author, Printer, time, and place.  
✚ ✚ Nor also paint, or cause to be painted, cell, or set to sale, have, hold, or keep any Images, Pictures, or figures reproachful to the virgin Mary, or to the Saints that are Canonised by the holy Church, or to the state of the Cleugie: nor break, deface, or pull down the Images and Pictures that are made in the honour of them.  
✚ ✚ Nor in their houses or else where hold or suffer to be held, any secret conventicles or undue assemblies, nor come in place where the said heretics and seducers do secretly and privily sow and teach their errors, rebaptize, and make many conspiracies against holy Church and the common weal.  
Furthermore, we for●… all men, as well lay folk as others, to talk or to reason, openly or secretly, of the holy scripture, specially in great and doubtful matters: or to read or teach the holy Scripture to others: unless they be Divines brought up in Divinity, & allowed by some famous Universitis, or admitted thereto by the Ordinary of the place: or finally to preach, defend, allege, or maintain openly or secretly, any doctrine of the said Authors.  
Upon pain (in case that any be found to have encountered or done against any of the points above mentioned) of being punished as seditious people and distrublers of the state and common weal, and to be executed for such: that is to wit, the men by the sword, and the women by the pit, so they do not uphold and defend their errors: but if they stand in their errors, opinions, and heresies, than they shallbe executed by the fire, and in all caces their goods shallbe seized, confiscate, & forfeited to our behoof, and they shall not be able to dispose of their goods from the day that they shall have done against our ordinance, statute, and prohibition, or been fallen into the said errors. And all alienations, gifts, conveyances, sales, settings over, Testaments, and last wills, made or passed by them after the said day, shallbe as none, and nothing worth, and of none effect nor force.  
Further, we decree, and prohibit every person (of what state or calling so ever he be) to presume to harbour, receive into his house, entertain, furnish, or secure with any victuals, money, apparel, or other necessaries, or to relieve with his goods, or otherwise wittingly to favour any that hath been counted or suspected for an heretic: and that all such as shall lodge, harbour, receive, or keep company with them (knowing them to be such) shallbe bound to bewray and declare them to the Inquisitor, or to the Officer of the place, if the place be privileged, or if it be not, to the chief Officer of the good town that is next the place where they devil: under pain (if they make default) to be punished as favourers of the ●…aid heretics.  
Item, we will, ordain, and decree, that no man of what state or calling so ever he be, shallbe admitted or received into any town or village of our countries hereawayes, to devil there, unless he bring a Certificate of his conversation from the Curate of the place where he dwelled last: which Certificate he shallbe bound to exhibit and deliver into the hands of the chief Officer of the Town or village where he intends to live: under pain, that they which bring not such certificate, shall not be admitted to devil there, but shallbe taken for suspected. And we command our Officers to lay diligently for informations against them, & to proceed therein as shallbe expedient. And it shall not be lawful for our said Officers to give any respite or protection to such people.  
Also we will that all our justices, officers, & men of Law, together with our vassals and subjects, Lords temporal, and high justices, shall upon pain of forfeiting of their Offices, jurisdictions, and high justiceships, or other penalty, at our pleasure, according as the case shall require: be bond to inquire diligently of them, and to proceed, or 'cause their under Officers to proceed against all such people, of what state or calling so ever they be, specially in the point of incounteryng of our said ordinance, and in matters falling within the compass of their examination, and depending upon their temporal jurisdiction. And further that at the request and desire of the Inquisitors of the faith, and of the Bishop's ordinary judges, (being minded to proceed together or as they chance to meet, against any man, because the thing concerneth the Ecclesiastical crime of heresy) they shall minister and give them all the aid, favour, and assistance that they can, for the executing and performing of their charges, and also for the appreh●…nding, imprisoning, and safe-keeping of such as they found to be infected, according to the 
o Which was very large and marvelous ●…gorous.  instructions that the Inquisitors have of us, and the commission that we have caused to be granted unto them to the same end. The which Officers, justices, and vassals, we comma●…nd to minister the said aid and assistance without any delay or lingering, under pretence of any suit hanging, prevention, or other occasion what soever: Charging our Attorneys general, and their deputies, to proceed against such as are negligent, & to procure sentence against them, to the end they may be deprived of their rooms, offices, and authority of jurisdiction, & have such other punishment as shallbe found requisite according to the state of the case.  
Item, that whosoever knoweth or understandeth of any that is infected of heresy, shallbe bond to bewray, discover, and name him incontinently without delay, and to give knowledge of him to the Inquisitors, or to the officers of the Bishops, and in their absence to the pastors and Curates of the Churches, that they may advertise their superiors thereof.  
Again, if any man be found to have done against our ordinances and prohibitions, showing himself to be infected, or a fa●…orer of heretics, or a doer of any act against our said ordinances and prohibitions, specially tending to offence, commotion of the people, or sedition: (We will) that all such as have knowledge or understanding of them, shall be bound to advertise our Attorneys thereof incontinently, or their substitutes and Deputies, or the Officers of the place where such infected people the favourers of them, or offen●…ers dwell. Likewise, if they perceive where any such heretics abide and hide them selves, they shallbe bond to bewray them to the Officer of the place, upon (as is ●…ayd afore) to be taken for fa●…orers, re●…eyuers, and adherentes of their heresy, & to be punished with the same punishment that the heretic or offender should be, if he were taken.  
In the same Decree, among other things, 
†  are rehearsed and repeated the words and substance of the seven po●…ntes and articles of the Decree going afore, marked at the beginning with such a Crosse. ✚   

¶ Thirdly the general and perpetual 
No. 9  Decree and Edict made and proclaimed the XXV. of Septemb. 1550. and renewed and confirmed by the king in the years. 1556. 60. 64. etc.  
FUrthermore we prohibit all men both lay folks and others, to talk 
All the Injunctions or Edicts made for here●…e, are found together in the book of the statutes of the Low Countries, printed at Gaunt.  or dispute of holy Scripture, openly or privily, specially in matters hard and doubtful: or to read, teach, declare, or expound the same Scripture to other men unless they be Divines, and graduates and allowed in Divinity or in the Canon law by some famous Uni●…ersitie, or be admitted thereto by the ordinary of the place. Provided always, that this shall not be meant of such as talk or confer simply and sincerely together of the holy Scripture, alleging the expositions of the holy & allowed Doctors thereupon: but of such as maintain and teach propositions & doctrines that are false & lewd & manifestly taken for heresies, contrary to the ordinance of our mother the holy Church, of purpose to seduce others by teaching them things forbidden. And [we prohibit them] also to preach, defend, say, or uphold, openly or secretly, any doctrine of the authors afore named.  
Under pain, that if any be found to have encountered or done against any of the points afore declared, they shallbe punished as seditious people and disturbers of our state, and of the quiet of the common weal, and so executed, that is to wit, the men by the sword, & the women by the Pit, so they do not maintain and defend their errors: but if they stand in their opinions, errors, & heresies than they shallbe executed by fire: & in all caces their goods shallbe seized, confiscate, & forfeited to our behoof.  
And whereas by our late decrees in our former Injunctions, we have ordained that from the day wherein they shall have done against them or fallen into the said errors, they shallbe unable to dispose of their goods, and that all alienations, gifts, conveyances, sales, settings over, Testaments and last wills made & passed by them after the said day, shall stand void and be of no force or effect: we do you to understand, that our meaning was not (as some have listed to say and brute abroad) by any means to impeach the subjects of our Countries in their lawful traffic and bargaining with strangers, so as they might not freely dispose of their goods, according to the law written, and according to the customs of the place respectively: but only to pr●…uent such as would do it fraudulently, to eschew the penalties of our Statutes, and thereby discharge themselves of the fear which they aught to have of the punishment for their misdealing or doing against them. And therefore our intent is only to provide for God's service, their own welfare, & the health of their souls, that they might not be sed●…ced, nor directly or indirectly drawn or led into any wicked and disallowed errors: wherein we show the office of a good Prince.  
Also we decree and prohibit furthermore, that no person of what state or calling soever he be, shall presume to lodge to receive into his house, to intertein to furnish or serve with victuals, necessaries or money, or otherwise to help with his goods, or willingly to favour any that have been taken or notoriosly suspected for 〈◊〉: and that all such as shall lodge, receive, or intertei●…e them, (knowing that them to be such, & that they go about to seduce or infect themselves or others openly or privily) shallbe bond to bewray & prefer them to the Ecclesiastical judges, or to the Officer of the place (if it be privileged), or else to the chief officer of the good town next the place where they devil: upon pain (for so making default) to be punished as favourers of heretics. Provided always that this prohibition shall not touch any innkeepers, or any other men that receive and lodge such as come into our said countries for traffic or other business of their own, of what country so ever they be: Saving that such strangers must not encounter this our Decree, but behave themselves so as they give no offence: and if they do, then if their hosts do not bewray them and accuze them, as is said afore: we decree and denounce that they shall fall into the penalties above mentioned.  
Also for as much as many of our countries being suspected of heresy, and specially of Anabaptistrie, do change their dwellynges, to infect the simple people in places where their disposition is unknown: we to provide therefore, do●… will, ordain, and decree, that no person of the inhabitants of our low countries, of what state, quality, or condition soever he be, shallbe admitted or received into any town or village of those countries to dwell there, unless he bring a certificate from the Curate of the place where he dwelled afore, which Certificate he shallbe bond to exhibit and deliver into the hands of the chief officer of the town or village where he intends to dwell, upon pain, that they which bring not such Certificate, shall not be admitted to abide there. And we charge our officers to seek diligent information against them, & to proceed as shallbe expedient: and it shall not be lawful for our said officers, or for the peculiar Lords, or for their officers, to give licence or passport to any such people. And as touching merchant strangers & others that list to come into our said low countries, our meaning is, not to compel them to bring such Certificate with them, or to exhibit it, saving that they must live there according to our said ordinances, & behave themselves without giving cause of offence, as is said afore.  
Also we will that all our justices, officers, & men of law, and all our vassals & subjects, Lords temporal & high justices shall (upon forfeiture of their offices, iu●…dictions, & justice ships, or upon other penalty, at our pleasure, according to the state of the case) be bond to make diligent search, & to proceed, or to 'cause their officers to proceed, to the verifying of the matters aforesaid against all people, of what state or calling soever they be, specially in the things that concern the incounteryng of our said ordinances, & in the caces that belong to their examination, and depend upon their temporal jurisdiction.  
Moreover, when the Ecclesiastical judges mean to proceed against any man, because he is faulty in the ecclesiastical crime of heresy: they shall require of the officers of our chief Courts or provincial Counsels, to have some one of their company or other assistant appointed than to be at the informations & proceedings which they intent to prefer against such as are suspected. And we will, comma●…nd, & enjoin all our officers, justices, & vassals, to yield & to give to the said judges, & their fellow Commissioners, all the help, favour, furtherance, & assistance that they can, for the executing & performing of their charge, & also in the apprehending imprisoning, & keeping of such as they shall find infected, without delay or impediment under pretence of any suit hanging, prevention or other occasion whatsoever under pain to be corrected at our pleasure. And we command our attorneys general and theirdeputies, to proceed against such as are negligent, & to procure sentence upon them, to the end they may be deprived of their rooms & offices, & of the privileges of their jurisdictions, and receive such other punishments▪ as shallbe found meet according as the case requireth.  
Iten, that all such as know or understand of any that are infected with heresy, shallbe bond to bewray, utter, name, & give knowledge of them immediately without delay, to the ecclesiastical judges, the Bishop's officers, and others to whom the matter belongeth. Also that if any man be found to have done against our decrees & prohibitions, showing himself to be infected or a favourer of heretics, or to have done any act against our ordinances & commandments, specially tending to offence, commotion of the people, or sedition: they that know them or understand of them, shallbe bound to give intelligence of them out of hand to our Attorneys, or to their deputies & under officers, or to the officers of the place, where such infected people offenders or favourers of them do well, & that under pain of being punished at our pleasure.  
Likewise if they know the place where any such heretic lieth hide, they shallbe bond to bewray him to the officer of that same place upon pain to be taken (as is said afore) for favourers, receivers, & adherentes of the heresy, & to be punished with the same punishment that the heretic or offender should be, if he were apprehended.  
And to the end that the said justices, & officers which shall have aprehended such heretics, Anabaptists, & transgressors of oursaid ordinances & commandments, may have no occasion to bear with them, their complices, & favourers, under pretence that the punishments may seem to great & rigorous, & set out but only to terrify offenders & evil doers: nor also to punish them less grievously than they have deserved, as hath been found to have been done oftentimes heretofore: we will that such as shall wittingly have done against this ordinance, by keeping to themselves, or by printing, selling, distributing, or putting forth any books, writings, or pictures that are heretical and offensive, or otherwise against the points heertotore declared or any of them: shallbe really punished, corrected and chastized with the punishments above mentioned.  
Prohibiting all judges, justices, & officers, together with our vassals and subjects, Lords temporal having, authority of justice, & their officers, to altar, mitigate, or change the said punishments, in any wise & commanding them that as soon as any withstanding appeareth, they utter & denounce the said punishment simply according to this decree: upon pain to be rigorously punished, unless that for some great & notable considerations, the judges find some hardness in the case about the preeize execution of the punishment that is appointed by our said decrees against the transgressor: in which case, notwithstanding, they shall not of their own authority proceed to any qualification, but be bound to carry or sand the same crime in all process faithfully, folded up & sealed, to the chief or provincial Counsel, under the jurisdiction whereof they shall resort together to be there looked upon, overseen, & counseled, whither there be fall any alteration or mitigation of the said penalties, or no. And if any of our said Counsels find that any alteration or mitigation is requisite by good justice & according to right and reason, wherewith we charge their consciences: In such case they may be well aduized thereof, & put it in writing, & sand it whole back again to the said justices & officers to dispatch & determine the case according thereunto. Nevertheless we charge & command them expressly, yea & even upon pain to be corrected & punished at our pleasure, that they 'cause not such consultation to be had, without great & apparent cause: but that they deal (as far as they can, even to the uttermost) according to the tenor of this present d●…ret.  
In the same Edict, among other things, were inserted word for word, the three first points or Articles contained in the former Edict, and marked there at their beginnings with a double Crosse. 
†† † † .  
Likewise there were rehearsed and repeated 
†  the words and substance of all the points and Articles noted and marked in the said Edict of. 1540, with a single 〈◊〉, saving that which hath a star added to the Cross thus. 
†* † *    

¶ The Articles of Agreement made with the noblemen that were the Confederates by the Regent in the kings name the twenty-three. day of August, and afterwards put at large into her letters of Assurance set down heretofore pag. 99 where the beginning of it is touched also.  
Her highness caused the gentlemen that 
No. 4.  had put up the supplication unto her, to return to the xx. of August to receive answer to their demands during which time it fallen out so well, that she received letters from the kings majesty whereby she was the better enabled to give them certain & absolute answer.  
And first of all she declareth, that his majesty having regard of the things that her highness hath showed unto him, is contented upon the advice of his lords, the knights of the Order, & others as well of his Counsels of estate, as of his privy Counsel, that the Inquisition whereof they complain, shall cease.  
Secondly his majesty consenteth that a new Edict should be made, but he was not resolved whether it should be done by mean of the states in general, or no. Nevertheless her highness hoped, that she should shortly have his full resolution therein, according as his majesty had written to her. And she would willingly do her endeavour still at all times, that his majesty might vout●…afe to condescend to the things aforesaid, as he had done by his letters again.  
And as touching the assurance whereof they made mention in their last suit: her highness was determined to give it them, so far forth as lay in her: And as now she was able to put them out of all doubt, for as much as his majesty had consented hereunto, & given her authority concerning the manner & form of it, as she should find it convenient. Wherefore she said & declared unto them, that his majesty abhorring nothing more than rigour, & being desirous by his accustomed clemency to put them all out of suspicion, which might think that he was misinformed of them, & to discharge them of the mistrust which had caused those troubles, was contented that her highness should for the pacifying of all inconveniences, make them all kinds of letters that might serve to that purpose, and in such form as she should perceive to be most for their safety, for what soever was passed: Conditionally that henceforth they behaved themselves like good & loyal vassals & subjects towards his majesty. which thing her highness hopeth that they will not fail to do, as becometh them, like as she was ready to accept their presentment.  
And now, for as much as they have full & whole satisfaction made unto them: her highness will not refuse the offer that they had made divers times, concerning their employing of themselves in the servis of his majesty & of her highness, for the benefit, rest, & tranquillity of the country, whereto the duty of faithfulness & of nature bindeth them. According whereunto she intends that they shall give her their faith, first that they shall nother do nor procure directly nor indirectly, any thing against his majesty, his states countries, & subjects, but that they shall employ themselves wholly to all manner of things that good & loyal vassals & subjects aught to perform towards their sovereign Lord & natural prince.  
In doing whereof they shall to the uttermost of their power, saythfully help to stay the present troubles, commotions, & uproars, and to restrain the insurrection of the people: that the sacking, pilling, & pulling down of churches, chapels, cloisters, & religious houses may cease in all places: yea & they shall help to punish such as have committed such sacrileges, outrages, & abominations: & see that no wrong be done to any ecclesiastical people, ministe●…s of justice, Gentlemen, or any other of the kings subjects and vassals.  
Iten, they shall earnestly endeavour, that the weapons which the people have taken in hand (where through so many mischiefs have been committed, and may be committed hereafter) may be laid away incontinently. Also they shall do the best they can by all good servis, to prohibit preaching in places where none hath been afore: and to prohibit all force, & cause of offence, & public disorder where preaching is used already Moreover, they shall indenor and put to their help, according as they are bond by oath & fealty towards his majesty, to the expulsing and repressing of all strangers that are enemies & rebels to his majesty & the Country.  
Finally they shall do their endeavour, according to the credit which they have among such as are now risen up for religion or otherwise, to 'cause them to submit themselves to the things that his majesty shall decree by the general advice of his estates, for the furtherance of religion, & the quietness and tranquillity of the same. Given at Brussels, the. 23. of August. 1566. Undersigned: Margaret.   

¶ A copy of the letter which the 
No. 4.  Confederates sent back in answer to the Regent.  
WE Lewis County of Nassaw, Eustace of Fiennes Lord of Esquerds, Charles of Revel, Lord of Andrignyes, Barnard of Merode Lord of Rumen, Charles of Ʋander Noot Lord of Risoire, George of Mountegnie Lord of Noyelles, Martin of Sarclas Lord of Tilly, Philip Ʋander Meeren Lord of Sterbek, Philip of Marbais lord of Louuerual, john of Mountegny lord of Vilers, Charles of Lievin Lord of Famars, Francis of Haeften, and john Savage Lord of Escaubecke, as well in our own names, as deputies & committees for all the rest of the Lords & gentlemen confederates, that did put up the supplication to the king's majesty in the month of April last, concerning the Inquisition & Injunctions for heresy: Forasmuch as this day we have received certain letters patents from the right high & excellent princess the duchess of Parma & Pleasance, Regent & Governess for the king in these countries here, authorised thereunto by the king our sovereign Lord & natural prince, in manner & form following, that is to say, Margaret by the grace of God Duchess of Parma & Pleasance, Regent etc. as in the letters of assurance above rehearsed: We do you to understand, that according to the same letters of assurance, we have promised & do promise solemnly by our faith and in the word of Gentlemen, & as true & loyal vassals & subjects of his majesty, That we will observe, maintain, & fulfil, all manner of points & articles aforesaid: & as well on our own behalf as on the behalf & in the name of all the rest whose deputies we be, & whose power, commission, authority, & cōmaūde●…ēt we have, we give & will give our words, that both we and the rest of our confederates shall keep, maintain, and perform the same: in respect whereof we hold our former confederacy as void, broken, & undone, so far forth & so long as the foresaid assurance promised by her highness in the king's majesties name, shall hold. In witness whereof we have signed these presents with our names. Made at Brussels the twenty-five. day of August. 1566. Signed underneath thus: jews of Nassaw. Eustace of Fiennes, Bernard of Merode, C. of Ʋander Noot, Charles of Revel, George of Mountegny, Philip vander Meeren, Philip of Marbais lord of Loverual, I Mountegny Lord of Vilers, Charles Lieven Lord of Famars, john Savage, Mart. Tserclas, and Francis of Haeften. And upon the backside was written. This present XXV. of August. 1566. the deputies and committees for the Lords & gentlemen confederate, named in the said writing (saving the L. lily & Francis of Haeften which were absent) took their solemn & requisite oath as well for themselves as for & on the behalf of the rest of that confederates, to maintain observe & perform, all & every point & article contained in the said writing, in the hands of the most honourable the princes of Orendge & Gawre, the County of Horn, the Lord of Hachicourt, and the Counsellor of Assouleville assigned thereto by her highness. Subscribed thus: In my presence. And signed: Of Onerloepe. Beneath that was written again: The. 27 day of the said month of August, the said year. 1566. the said lord of Lily & Francis of Haeften, after the reading of the said writing unto them, have also set to their names & seals, & taken the oath abovesaid in the hands of the most honourable the prince of Bawre, the Counties of Manusfeld, & of Horn, the Lord of Hachicourt, & the Counsellor of Assouleville assigned thereto by her highness, as is said afore. Subscribed: In my presence also. And signed: Of Ouerloepe.   

¶ A copy of the Letter closed by the Regent, and sent hereupon to the Counsellors and towns of the low Countries.  
MArgaret by the grace of God Duchess 
No. 4.  of Parma and Pleasance. etc. Regent and governess. etc. Right dear and well-beloved,  
I will not omit to let you understand how my Lord the king advertiseth us by his letter of the. 13. of the last month, of his resolution concerning the things wherein I asked his counsel and advicc in the month of May last. Whereof his majesty could not give answer any sooner, because 〈◊〉 tarried for the coming of the Marquis of Berghes, and the Baron of Mountegny sent unto him by us, upon whose report all the chief handling of the matter consisted. And truly as touching the Inquisition, his majesty taking regard to the things which I informed him of by the advice of the knights of the Order, and of the counsellors both of estate, and of the privy counsel, being with us, is contented that it shall cease. Likewise also aes touching the Injunctions in the case of heresy: he is contented that new shallbe made, so as respect be had to the maintenance of the holy ca●… faith & of his ●…sties authority. But he is not yet resolved whether that shallbe done by the states generally, or otherwise. And therefore I have written very earnestly unto him again, and I look shortly for his majesties good will and pleasure in that behalf.  
Moreover, whereas I informed his majesty of the doubt which the Gentlemen that preferred the Supplication to us in April last, to the end afore said, did east, jest his majesty should mislike of their suit, and of the confedoracie that they made among themselves for the same, which doubt might have caused distrust, & consequently the trouble and unquietness of the Country: his majesty intending to deal according co his accustomed clemency, and abhorring all rigour as much as may be, is contented that (if we see that his so doing may 'cause all unquietness to cease, as we be promised that it shall) we shall make requisite assurance, in such manner & form as we perceive to be expedient. Which thing is done, so as nothing shallbe imputed to to them by his majesty nor by us, for aught that is past: conditional lie that they behave themselves henceforth like good and loyal subjects & vassals of his majesty: whereupon all their confederacies must be voided, broken of, & undone, so long as the things that I have promised them in the king's name do hold & stand firm as you may see by the acts passed thereupon.  
And we advertise you further, that the king's majesty intends and purposeth to maintain the true ancient Catholic Religion: and that his governors, counsellors, officers, and magistrates ●…al do their endeavour to the full, that there may no inconvenience happen in the mean while, till he come hither to take order: which thing he promises to do shortly, if he can by any means▪ possble.  
Of all which things as serving to the pacification and quieting of these present troubles, as well in Religion as in the common weal: W▪ thought good to advertise you, that you migh●… endeavour yourselves so much the more to do your duties as becometh his majesties true and faithful subjects, and also follow his holy and good meaning, in resisting the froward and seditious disturbers of the common weal, in maintena●…ce of the Catholic faith, and in his majesties servis, to the quietness and tranqui●…tie of the Country and yourselves. And so right dear and well-beloved, our Lord have you in his holy keeping.  
From Brussels, the. twenty-five. day of August. 1566.  
FINIS.    

❧ Imprinted at London by john Day, dwelling over Aldersgate. Februar. 24. 1575.